701.0093/229: Telegram
The First Secretary of Embassy in China (Salisbury) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 31—6 a.m.]
199. At the request of the Ambassador the following two telegrams are quoted:
“March 30, 11 a.m.
1. The Japanese Embassy has asked the French Embassy for permission to use the French glacis on April 6th for a review of 3,000 [Page 301] ‘Self Defense Corps’ young Chinese men. Yaguchi of the Japanese Embassy states that the young men are not soldiers and do not carry arms and that the review will be neither military nor political in character. The Corps will be reviewed by Japanese officers not of the Embassy guard.
2. The French commandant gave permission for the French glacis to be used. That permission has now been suspended and will probably be retracted. The French claim that due to poor interpreting the French commandant did not realize that officers other than Embassy guard officers were to participate. Lacoste contends that the review is political in character. If the French definitely refuse permission they will probably raise the question of whether objection should be made to the review being held on the Japanese glacis.
2 [sic]. I have told Lacoste that my personal view is that it would be inadvisable to make an issue of the matter inasmuch as (a) the Japanese state that the review is neither military nor political in character, (b) the Self Defense Corps is not composed of soldiers and is armed only with wooden staves, (c) the political character is not clearly apparent, (d) Japanese officers other than Embassy guard officers have in the past made some use of the Legation quarter without objection being advanced (for example, General Terauchi held a press conference at the Embassy), (e) unanimity of view on the part of the Diplomatic Missions could not be achieved, (f) the Japanese will hold the review anyway, and (g) likelihood of our gaining our ends when some future and more important question arises would be lessened.
3. I should appreciate your instruction as to what the Embassy’s attitude should be in case the French make an issue of the question.
4. I understand that the British Embassy here holds views similar to mine”.
“March 30, 5 p.m. Your March 30, 11 a.m. I agree with you that it would be inadvisable to make an issue of the matter. Please repeat your telegram and this reply to the Department”.