793.94/14657: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 31—9:05 a.m.]
62. At yesterday’s meeting of the Budget Committee of the Lower House the Minister of War was asked to comment on the opinion expressed by a private member that Japan’s plans for the development of China required that Japanese troops be stationed in China for a long period of time. Pertinent portions of the reply of the Minister are reported to have been as follows:
“Troops may be stationed abroad for various reasons, such as for purposes of national defense, to maintain order or for strategic military operations. I am not at liberty to discuss at length the period over which troops will be maintained, methods, extent, and other such details, but I believe that you may take it that in general troops will be stationed in China for a substantially long period. Accordingly, the army is giving consideration to plans to meet the maintenance of troops on a semi-permanent basis [apparent omission] since the issuance of the official statement of December 22, a rumor has been current that the army intends to withdraw the forces now in Central and South China. This is sheer propaganda. The army has no intention whatever of taking any such action.”
By air mail to Shanghai for repetition to Chungking.