Office of the Historian

793.94/7093: Telegram

The Second Secretary of Legation in China (Atcheson) to the Secretary of State

Nanking, June 21, 1935—9 a.m.
[Received 10 a.m.]

174. My 155, June 14, 11 a.m.

1.
In a lengthy informal conversation last evening Hsu Mo remarked that he had read news despatches concerning the projected investigation of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee into the question whether the Japanese military démarche in North China constituted violation of the Kellogg Pact and the Nine Power Treaty. Hsu said, laughing, that this was “really very funny” since every one knew that Japan was now violating both those agreements and had violated them in many instances since the seizure of Mukden in 1931, the creation of the demilitarized zone inside the Wall being an example. He [Page 269] stated later on that he realized no nation in the world at the present time was willing to put forth a maximum effort to prevent Japan from gaining control of China but he was confident that conditions would be greatly altered if two major powers interested in China should cooperate in taking steps to alleviate the situation. He added that China was not, however, asking any nation for assistance.
2.
Other remarks tended to confirm my understanding of the situation in North China as I have been reporting it. He stated by way of general summary that China is now passing through some of the darkest hours of its history; that the Chinese Government has employed the greatest toleration in attempting to solve the difficulties which the Japanese military have caused; that for the time being North China is comparatively quiet but the Chinese do not know from one day to the next what move undisciplined Japanese officers might make; and that irrespective of the fact that the Japanese had not formally occupied Hopei they had in effect seized Chinese territory with their armies and were exercising control over Chinese territory.
3.
He said that the Southwestern situation looked more hopeful; he did not think Chen Chi Tang would actually break with Nanking at this time because public opinion would be too much against him and because Kwangtung finances are at present inadequate for an independent government there to be successful.
4.
Despatched to the Legation and Department.
Atcheson