793.94/7407: Telegram
The Second Secretary of Embassy in China (Atcheson) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 20—10:35 a.m.]
94. 1. I am informed by a responsible official who is confidential assistant to Kung, Acting President of the Executive Yuan, that: (1) the Chinese Minister of War today signed an agreement with Japanese representatives covering the demilitarization of Hopei and other parts of North China; (2) the Japanese Ambassador now in Nanking today gave assurances that no Japanese military action would be undertaken in China except defensive action; (3) the Japanese Emperor is understood to have issued a rescript to the Army forbidding military action inside the Wall unless Japanese forces are threatened by Chinese military, the penetration of Central Government troops into certain areas to constitute such threat. (I have not been able to verify these statements from other sources.)
2. He stated that this meant the customs and salt revenues in the North and the Shanhaikwan-Peiping section of the railway would be saved, but it was nevertheless expected that an autonomous regime “having allegiance to the Government” would be established very soon. He stated to be correct reports that: (1) concerned officials in the North have not been able as yet to come to agreement regarding the leadership of such a regime; (2) former Anfu officials are intriguing in the matter, Wang I-t’ang being one; (3) Shang Chen is remaining in Paoting and Han Fu-chu for the time being in Tsinanfu; (4) General Tada found Han cold to his proposals.
3. The Japanese Ambassador is said by an official of the Foreign Office to be conferring with Chiang Kai-shek at this hour.
4. To the Consulate General [at] Shanghai for the Ambassador, Peiping and Tokyo.