793.94/4836: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 19—7:42 a.m.]
My March 15, 10 a.m., and March 18, 7 p.m.11
1. Shigemitsu and Kuo met at 10 a.m. today in the presence of American, British, French and Italian chiefs of mission to discuss draft of agenda quoted in my telegram above referred to. After some discussion meeting adjourned at 12 noon to enable Lampson, Teichman and myself, to put on paper the results of our discussions in the form of a more complete agenda. These results will be laid before Shigemitsu and Kuo at 4 o’clock this afternoon and will be telegraphed later.
2. Taking up items of agenda one by one it was substantially agreed: Item 1, Chinese military will define line now and any doubt will be resolved by inspection of line by military attachés of friendly powers. Item 2, Shigemitsu dwelt at some length upon lack of physical accommodations within Settlement limits and Hongkew salient for large number of Japanese soldiers now here; pointed out that large concentrations of munitions and supplies at railroad landing near Woosung Village necessitated retention of the place for accommodation Japanese troops temporarily.
Pressed by Kuo to indicate length of time troops would be held in that area Shigemitsu refused to commit himself, insisting this was a matter to be settled by military. Kuo suggested neutral commission fix time but Shigemitsu insisted military must not be bound as to movement and disposition Japanese troops. It was distinctly intimated in Shigemitsu’s stand that Japanese military would hold troops here until Japan was satisfied that boycott had ceased and all anti-Japanese [activities?] had been suppressed although he did not say this in so many words. At this point Kuo stated that while matter was not subject to discussion he wanted to say that Mayor’s letter of January 28th was still valid.
[Page 605]Upon this Shigemitsu apparently agreed that separate note quoted in my March 15, 10 a.m., could be dropped. Shigemitsu stated very earnestly that he hoped that it would be possible for Japanese forces to leave very soon. Finally it was agreed military attaches of friendly powers might certify first necessity for reinstatement Japanese troops at points outside Settlement areas.
Shigemitsu indicated a desire on the part of the Japanese to make some kind of arrangement for the maintenance of order in evacuated area. Kuo stated that Chinese were already prepared to bring specially trained police from areas unaffectedly military activities of Japanese to take over policing of areas around Settlement. Shigemitsu referred to paragraph II of League’s resolution of March 11th. We pointed out that League request was contingent upon necessity of outside help and both Lampson and I stated that presence of specially trained Chinese constabulary in area mentioned seemed to us to meet the situation. Shigemitsu stated that he raised the question because his nationals were afraid and it was necessary to do something to help allay their feelings.
(In this connection I desire to point out that Japanese are not safe on the streets of the International Settlement in sectors guarded by British and American troops. We have had to warn them to keep within doors as several have been mobbed and killed or seriously injured by the Chinese. Neither Lampson nor I wish to be made responsible for the safety of the Japanese lives within evacuated areas where feelings of Chinese have been exacerbated to a very high degree by the way in which Japanese military have dealt with civilian population. We are prepared to work out some plan that will aid in liquidation of present military situation but I think that it will be unreasonable for Japanese to expect us to guarantee safety of Japanese lives within evacuated areas).
3. Shigemitsu indicated that Japanese intended to leave negotiations entirely in the hands of military. Sir Miles and I insisted that whatever agreement was reached should be made between civilians as well as military. Shigemitsu is seeking new instructions in regard to this.
- Latter not printed.↩