793.94119/736: Telegram
The First Secretary of Embassy in China (Smyth) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 3—10:50 a.m.]
98. Peiping’s 83, March 15, noon,70 and previous related telegrams. The American informant71 in question [will leave?] from Peiping tomorrow for Chungking via Shanghai and Hong Kong. Knowing this, Counsellor Tsuchida in charge of the Japanese Embassy here called on him April 1st and again brought up the question of concluding hostilities with China. Informant reviewed the Chinese position as set forth in Peiping’s 513, December 11, noon,72 and repeated his opinion that there was no possibility of peace negotiations with General Chiang Kai-shek until the Generalissimo was assured that the Japanese were genuinely willing to withdraw all troops.
Mr. Tsuchida appeared to be particularly interested in and manifestly worried about American assistance to China. He was also interested in the Chinese Communist question and the effect of recent clashes with Central Government; informant expressed the belief that the Japanese could not hope that internal disgrace would stop Chinese resistance.
After a lengthy discussion Mr. Tsuchida inquired as to the possibility of “mediation” by the United States between Japan and China [Page 118] to bring hostilities to an end. Informant expressed the personal opinion that the United States would be willing to “mediate” or take part in a three power discussion only if requested to do so by both Japan and China and that as China would be willing to discuss peace only if assured of Japanese troop withdrawal the question now rested squarely with Japan.
Informant believes that Mr. Tsuchida’s call upon him was under instructions from Tokyo.
Sent to the Department, repeated to Chungking, Tokyo, Shanghai.
- Not printed.↩
- Dr. John Leighton Stuart.↩
- Foreign Relations, 1940, vol. iv, p. 466.↩