793.94/8760: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State
Tokyo, July 14, 1937—6
p.m.
[Received July 14—10:35 a.m.]
[Received July 14—10:35 a.m.]
200. My 193, July 13, 6 p.m.8
- 1.
- The Military Attaché was informed this morning at the War Office that no reenforcements have left Japan proper or Chosen for North China, but that a detachment from the Jehol garrison has reached the Peiping area, and that preparations are being made to send additional troops from Japan proper or Chosen, if necessary. The War Office emphasized that there is no intention of setting up any “independent country” in North China, and that the incident can be settled by faithful Chinese execution of agreement already accepted by the Chinese 29th Army.
- 2.
- It is the opinion of the Military Attaché that only a small force, probably an infantry regiment, has reenforced the North China garrison, and that one division of the Chosen Army and probably the Third, Sixteenth, Tenth, Fifth, and Sixth Divisions in Japan proper and [are?] in readiness to move on short notice.
- 3.
- This morning the Foreign Office communicated to us the text of the agreement said to have been signed jointly by the Mayor of Tientsin, by an officer of the 29th Army, and by the Chief of the Public Safety Bureau of Hopei. These terms are substantially similar to those communicated by the Japanese Embassy to the Embassy at Peiping, as reported in Peiping’s telegram number 230, July 13, 8 p.m.9
- 4.
- A feeling of optimism was expressed by the Foreign Office, the prospects being thought favorable for the liquidation of the situation on the basis of the local agreement provisionally reached and later repudiated by the Chinese. It was stated that future developments would depend on (a) whether the Blue Shirts would incite the 29th Army to further anti-Japanese activities, and (b) the Nanking Government [Page 323] would send troops north of Paoting, Hopei Province, in contravention of the Ho-Umezu agreement of 1935.10 It was stated emphatically that Japan would not permit Nanking Government troops to proceed north of this point. The statements made at the Foreign Office check precisely with the statements made by the War Office to the Military Attaché.
Repeated to Peiping.
Grew