793.94/2941: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Forbes) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 28—10:30 a.m.]
239. I have delivered your message in 245. Baron Shidehara states that there has been no change in the plan or intention of his Government in regard to movement against Chinchow; the evacuation of Tsitsihar is progressing steadily and is a matter of days; that in the region of the Liang [sic] River there have been movements against bands of bandits, as indicated in last paragraph of my telegram73 and they have been dispelled, and troops now withdrawing towards Mukden, but may have to operate again if at any time further bands of [Page 52] Chinese bandits advance. He informs me that troops had not advanced to Kowpangtze and statements to that effect are unwarranted.
Baron Shidehara informs me that he has been placed in a most embarrassing, and as he terms it, untenable position by statements appearing in the press purporting to be given out by you to the effect:
- First, that he was giving out the fact of agreement between the Chief of Staff and the Minister of War which he requested should be confidential when he gave it to me.
- Secondly, that movements of troops have been in contravention to his representations, which he denies.
- And thirdly, that he has expressed a regret for the action of the Japanese troops in Manchuria.
The allegation that you have given out these statements which appear in an Associated Press despatch has resulted, so Baron Shidehara informs me, in his now being subjected to most acrimonious and bitter attacks from his Army. He has, through the French Ambassador, been conducting negotiations with Briand which has resulted in an accord being reached between the Chinese and Japanese in principle in regard to further movements in the vicinity of Chinchow, the Chinese agreeing to withdraw troops to a certain line and the Japanese also withdrawing, the administration of the region between being left in Chinese civil hands under the protection of Chinese police. The exact limits of this region is now under discussion and conversations are being held to determine that and perhaps other details. Baron Shidehara says that the object which he and you desire was in a fair way apparently of accomplishment but that he greatly fears these press reports from Washington may jeopardize the success of the whole agreement by encouraging the Chinese to propose or make unreasonable demands. May I express the hope that you can issue a statement to the press that you have assurances that there has been no misrepresentation to you and that the representations are being carried out. I am personally convinced that Baron Shidehara has been acting in entire good faith, and he wishes me to express his confident belief that you have only friendly feeling towards him and that both he and you are ardently desirous of accomplishing the same object, namely, the maintenance of peace. I am appending text of the message purporting to be given out by you in Washington which is causing so much excitement here and making Baron Shidehara’s position difficult:
“This is not the first time America has had reason to watch with suspicion the actions of the Japanese Army since the incident of September 18th. From the very outset the Tokyo Government asserted that Japan has no aggressive designs and desires only to protect the rights and interests of Japan, and yet city after city has been attacked by the Japanese Army. Some of them are actually several hundred miles away from the South Manchurian Railway. Each time an attack has been made the Japanese Government has expressed regret [Page 53] and stated that it would not be repeated. The American Government at first had simply an impression that a portion of the Army, which was not under the complete control of the Government, went too far in its action. The note received only three days ago was a definite promise by both civil and military authorities; therefore the American Government believed till today that everything would proceed peacefully; on November 23rd, when Stimson received news of the danger of Japan attacking Chinchow, he notified the Japanese Government that his patience had reached an end. He warned the Japanese Government that an attack on Chinchow would destroy entirely the peaceful negotiations now going on in Paris. Baron Shidehara replied that Japan has no intention of attacking in the direction of Chinchow and that he had so informed the Japanese military commanders in Manchuria.”
The Foreign Office has given to the press a “vigorous written statement” in regard to this alleged statement; speaks of Stimson’s precipitate action disclosing confidential exchanges and speaks of his flying into fulminations, losing his head in critical moments; states he is misinformed in manner and in matter. In regard to the Japanese Army running amuck, asks if he considered the meaning of his words before using them, and other bitter comments.