893.00 Shantung/1
Memorandum by the Consul and Vice Consul at Tsinan (Stevens and Ludden) of a Conversation With the Chairman of the Shantung Provincial Government (Han) on January 22, 193419
General Han expressed a conviction that Japan would indulge in further acts of aggression in North China and that it was only a matter of months before Shantung would be invaded by a Japanese army. [Page 14] To meet such a situation when it arises, General Han stated that he sought tangible assistance from the United States in the form of munitions of war. Fighting planes, heavy artillery, harbor mines, arsenal machinery, gas equipment, motor trucks, and a suitable number of American technicians to train his men were mentioned in particular. He desires these materials at as early a date as possible before hostilities commence.
General Han prefers to obtain them from the United States because he believes that the United States will become involved in the conflict eventually on the side of China and because the American Government and people have demonstrated that they have no territorial ambitions in China. If he cannot receive such “cooperation” from the United States he will try to obtain it from some European power that is not so territorially ambitious in China as Japan.
General Han has little or no money to pay for these war materials. If they are furnished by the United States he is prepared to offer as security concessions in Shantung mines and industries and to afford bases for American submarines and other warcraft along the Shantung coast; also, landing fields for American aircraft. He hopes that the American Government will realize the advantage to its own armed forces in the event of war with Japan in being able to use the territory and facilities of Shantung as a base of operations and expressed belief that if America did not take advantage of the opportunity the province would be lost to the Japanese.
General Han expressed a belief that with American cooperation he could raise and equip an army of 8,000,000 to fight the Japanese in Shantung. He repeatedly emphasized his determination to fight in a determined manner. In reply to my inquiry as to what assurance there would be that he would not use such military power in civil strife rather than against a foreign foe, he admitted that he knew what was in my mind; that he did not like General Chiang Kaishek personally, but that he favored and would continue to support China’s struggle to establish and maintain a central government. He would not attack the Nanking Government because of General Chiang.
Answering further questions, General Han said that he believed the Central Government was neither disposed nor able to render much assistance in defending Shantung against a Japanese attack. The defense of this area was a problem that he must solve as best he could. The Central Government has already made this clear to him.
Replying to a question on the military equipment already in his possession, General Han said that the Tsinan Arsenal could supply him with sufficient small arms ammunition and grenades. He also stated that he had ordered six aeroplanes from a British source; that [Page 15] these planes were due to arrive at a Shantung port within a few weeks; that he had not obtained a permit from Nanking for their importation and use; that the British manufacturer would attend to that for him; and that he would notify the Central Government after the planes arrived.
General Han gave several concrete instances of Japanese intrigue at Tsinan. One was a recent visit of a Japanese high official, member of the Japanese royal family,—name not given—who offered General Han money and military supplies and promised to retain him in control in Shantung if he would cooperate with Japan and Manchukuo in establishing a new state in North China. According to General Han, he politely refused the offer. “Many times,” said General Han, “the Japanese officials have sounded me out on this subject, but all I promised them was to keep peace and order here and to protect Japanese life and property.” Other instances mentioned related to the activities of thirty Japanese “police” attached to the local Japanese Consulate General, the importation of Japanese artificial silk goods through Shantung ports without the payment of customs duty, and the sale of narcotic drugs by Japanese hospitals and drug stores in Shantung.20
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- H. E. Stevens
- R. P. Ludden
- General Han was attended by Messrs. Liu Shih-chun and Philip Fugh. Copy of memorandum transmitted to the Department by the Minister in China in his despatch No. 2490, January 30; received February 24.↩
- The Minister in China telegraphed Consul Stevens on January 29, 1934, to inform General Han “that the American Government is not interested in the proposals which he has made to you.”↩