711.94/2311: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 23—6:45 p.m.]
1503. For the Secretary and the Under Secretary only. The Director of the American Bureau called the Counselor to the Foreign Office this afternoon and made orally a statement which he emphasized was made by him at the direction of the Minister for Foreign Affairs for communication to me and through me to the American Government. He added that the statement is intended to supplement the statements made to me by the Minister for Foreign Affairs at our interview yesterday.
The following text of the oral statement is a transcription of full notes which were taken during the making of the statement:68 [Page 477]
(Begin statement) The reasons for which the Japanese Government deems necessary the stationing of troops in certain areas of China for a certain period, even after the settlement of the China affair, are as follows:
1. Japan’s desire to collaborate in the construction of a peaceful China.
The history of China proves abundantly that her internal order has been constantly disturbed, especially after periods of warfare. Maneuvers originating abroad, which take advantage of this fact, have sometimes provoked serious conflict between China and Japan and other powers. Thus internal disorders have often degenerated into international friction. Communistic activity at the present time, as we are all aware, is very intensive, and it is prejudicial to the preservation of internal order. If this state of affairs is to be repeated in the future as it has in the past, the stabilizing of the livelihood of the Chinese people and the promotion of their welfare would be almost hopeless. Accordingly, the maintenance of internal order after peace shall have been restored between China and Japan is a matter of the utmost importance. Hoping, therefore, that China will put forth every effort promptly to restabilize the livelihood of her people, Japan desires that China herself and by her own efforts alone shall achieve that end, the realization of which Japan keenly desires. But Japan recognizes the difficulty of this task under the present circumstances (not only for this reason but for the reason hereafter set forth under paragraph numbered 2). Thus Japan is prepared to collaborate with China for the achievement of that end by stationing her troops in China within certain areas and for a certain necessary period.
2. To assure the security of Japan.
Even from the economic point of view the maintenance of order in nearby regions is a question which inevitably exercises influence on the very existence of Japan. The situation prevailing in China on the restoration of peace between Japan and China, after four years of conflict, wide in character and modern in scale, from the military point of view exercises even more influence on Japan’s existence. In addition, it may be said that almost the entire world is involved in the calamity of war. Accordingly, it is a matter of common sense that Japan should feel justifiable alarm lest there develop in China an extremely serious state of affairs growing out of causes which are internal in origin as well as causes which originate abroad. To prevent that state of affairs, which would in fact be to protect Japan’s very existence, necessitates the stationing of troops in China for a necessary period of time.
In conclusion, Japan considers for the reasons above set forth the stationing of her troops in China under the conditions above mentioned to be absolutely necessary. However, she is ready to withdraw her troops when the necessity above described shall have ceased. The idea of maintaining internal order in China by the stationing of international forces is not agreeable to Japan in view of the present trend of Japanese public opinion and of the fact that Japan is directly and most vitally affected by the maintenance of order in China. (End statement.)
- For translation of Japanese text, see ibid., p. 640.↩