793.94119/471: Telegram
The Chargé in China (Peek) to the Secretary of State
[Received 11:10 p.m.]
618. Central News Agency release of December 23, Chungking, quotes a spokesman of the Chinese Foreign Office as having commented as follows in regard to the statement issued by the Japanese Prime Minister:78
“The latest statement by Prince Konoye is in no wise different from previous declarations made by the Japanese Government. It thus shows that the basic policy of Japan, namely, the policy of destroying the independence and integrity of China and of closing the Open Door in this country, has remained unchanged.
Prince Konoye professes, on the one hand, the respect of his Government for the sovereignty of China, but, on the other, he announces the determination of Japan to continue her military operations in China, to consolidate the puppet regimes set up by the Japanese Army, and to force China into signing an anti-communist pact. His declared objects falsify the avowed intention of his Government to respect the sovereignty of China.
While declaring that Japan has no territorial designs on China, Prince Konoye demands in the same breath the right to station troops in China and the transformation of inner Mongolia into a so-called [Page 434] ‘special anti-communist district.’ Such, demands constitute but a disguised attempt at the political dismemberment of China.
With regard to the so-called rights of domicile and trade in the interior of China, the Japanese desire may appear to be harmless on the surface. But if one were to consider the presence of Japanese troops in China and their domination of the puppet government, it should not be difficult to visualize Japan’s true intentions in this country. That is to say, Japan is intent on using her military forces and the bogus regimes to push with all her might a comprehensive scheme of economic penetration covering the whole of China and exclusively for Japan’s own interest. This line of action is identical with that followed in her exploitation of Manchuria.
The declaration that Japan does not wish to monopolize the economic rights in China now to restrict the economic interests of third powers, is entirely insincere, being merely intended to ease the international atmosphere which has become increasingly unfavorable to her. One needs only to look at the present condition of the so-called ‘Manchukuo’ and the recent Japanese economic establishments in China as well as the extent of destruction of third power interests to realize that Japan’s declaration is not to be trusted.”
The Chinese press today comments widely and in a similar vein on Prince Konoye’s statement and generally makes the point that China will continue to offer resistance until Japan relinquishes her present policy toward China.
Repeated to Peiping for Tokyo.