793.94/8782: Telegram
The Counselor of Embassy in China (Peck) to the Secretary of State
[Received 2:02 p.m.]
283. 1. Timperley states that at his suggestion the Foreign Office is beginning to disseminate news of Chinese troop movements and other military preparations and that last night he telephoned to Reuters, Shanghai, a long account of this nature from the Foreign Office, to be issued by Reuters at that place. He states that the purpose of the change is to obviate the 1935 reaction of world opinion, that China was doing nothing to help herself whereas preparations for eventualities are being strenuously undertaken.
2. Pie says that letter received by him this morning from T. V, Soong1 states that the latter is communicating by cable with Leith-Ross2 in London urging Leith-Ross to press the British Government to intervene, arguments being that war will destroy all the groundwork of currency stabilization and financial rehabilitation prepared by Leith-Ross. Soong added that in his opinion the Chinese Government [Page 172] should as a matter of policy seek foreign “mediation” because of the pressure of British, American and other foreign opinion toward peace. In this connection a responsible official of the Foreign Office last evening told an officer of the Embassy that while China was determined to uphold her rights, she was reiterating her attitude of desiring peace.
3. Sent to the Department and Peiping.