793.94/8792: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 16—11:30 a.m.]
206. 1. In view of the announcement of the commencement of troops movements from Japan to China and also in view of the Vice Minister’s favorable reaction to his representations yesterday (my 203, July 15, 11 p.m., paragraph 4), the British Chargé d’Affaires again called on the Vice Minister this morning and made to him the following oral statement:
“The Japanese Government must of course be the judge of what measures are necessary for the security of their troops in North China. It is hoped that the representations being made at Nanking by His Majesty’s Ambassador will succeed in persuading the Chinese Government to take no action which might make the situation more difficult. The Chinese Government may however be unwilling to listen to his representations if they are able to show that large reenforcements are being sent to the Japanese garrison in North China.
The sole object of His Majesty’s Government is to do all they can to ensure the maintenance of peace between the two powers with whom Great Britain is always anxious to remain on the best of terms.”
2. Strictly secret as requested by informant. Thereupon and without instructions from his Government Dodds communicated orally to the Vice Minister the contents of a telegram just then received from the British Ambassador in Nanking which I paraphrase as follows:
- (a)
- Chiang Kai-shek, with whom the Minister of Foreign Affairs in Nanking has now communicated, has made a most categorical statement to the effect that all movements of Chinese troops have, as a result of troop movements by Japan, [been made?] solely for self-defense. The Generalissimo states that he entertains no intentions whatever of starting hostilities.
- (b)
- The Chinese Government is ready to withdraw troops to their positions prior to the incident and to terminate all troop movements in the affected area if similar action is taken by the Japanese Government. The utmost importance is attached by the Minister of Foreign Affairs to the avoidance of aggravating the situation and as a preliminary measure he suggests that on July 17 all troop movement on both sides shall stop. Arrangements could be made thereafter for restoration of the previous positions. The foregoing proposal would be conditional on the understanding that no attempt to occupy positions of strategic importance would in the meantime be attempted by either side or in other words a gentleman’s agreement under which there would be no attempt to take advantage of this intervening period. (End of oral communication).
3. After communicating the foregoing statement Dodds asked the Vice Minister his reaction. Dodds states that no reaction was forthcoming. [Page 188] Dodds pointed out the seriousness of the situation and that time is at present a vital factor in preventing hostilities. He said that this is a moment for the statesmen and not the soldiers to control. The Vice Minister still made no comment.
4. Dodds [made his?] communication in paragraph 2 to the Vice Minister without instructions from his Government and he is somewhat apprehensive lest his actions meet with disapproval in London.
5. The French Ambassador informs Dodds that he is still determined to take no step unless categorically directed by his Government to do so.
Repeated to Peiping.