893.102 Kulangsu/226: Telegram
The Chargé in Japan (Dooman) to the Secretary of State
Tokyo, August 1, 1939—5
p.m.
[Received August 2—6 a.m.]
[Received August 2—6 a.m.]
378. Department’s 228, July 29, 2 p.m.
- 1.
- I called on Yoshizawa today and read to him the Department’s telegram under reference and Amoy’s July 27, 2 p.m., communicating the substance of a statement given by the Japanese Consul General at Amoy to a local newspaper.
- 2.
- The conversation which ensued is summarized as follows: It was quite clear to me that the Japanese were attempting to profit by the proposal for simultaneous withdrawal of marines to bring about acceptance of the Japanese demand for appointment of Japanese police inspector and that the Japanese Consul General is prejudicing any Japanese spokesman making progress by belligerent statements such as those given to the local press. Yoshizawa for his part insisted that the note of July 11 of the Council to the Japanese Consul General had done a great deal of harm by placing on record matters which were then under negotiations. He admitted that the statement given to the press by Uchida as reported by MacVitty was not calculated to promote friendly negotiations. He assumed that statements of this character came within the term “psychological obstacles” contained in the Department’s telegram and he agreed to take note of my representations and to pass them on to the appropriate authorities.
Repeated to Chungking, Peiping, and Amoy.
Dooman