893.102 Tientsin/300: Telegram
The Chargé in Japan (Dooman) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 24—9:12 a.m.]
295. Our telegram No. 294, June 24, noon.
- 1.
- In the light of further details now available, it appears that proposal for round table conference was made by the British Ambassador on June 20 and accepted in principle yesterday by the Minister for Foreign Affairs. The negotiations are to be begun by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the British Ambassador and then carried on under their supervision by their representatives. A basis of negotiations is to be proposed by the Japanese within the next few days and prior to the opening of the conference.
- 2.
- The Foreign Minister’s oral statement to Craigie contained the
following.
“As you are aware, the present situation in Tientsin has been brought about immediately by the question of the surrender of some acknowledged members of the terrorist gang there, but as a matter of fact, it has its origin in the various complicated circumstances prevailing on the spot. The settlement of the dispute has therefore to be sought in Tientsin itself and the proposition to be made by my Government will naturally refer to military, political and economic requirements pertaining to the security of our military forces on the spot. Your Excellency now proposes to enter into negotiations on the subject in Tokyo by inviting here the representative of the British Consulate General in Tientsin and under your supervision. Abiding by the spirit in which this proposal has been made, my Government are prepared to let their representatives pursue these negotiations here under their guidance. In this connection I wish to point out as I have done before that it is generally believed in my country that the present China affair could have been brought to an end long before this but for the continued assistance given by your country to Chiang Kai Shek, and it is an unanimous desire of my country that in appreciation of our case, your country will bring herself to abandon in due course its policy of assisting Chiang and to adjust it so as to be in line with our policy in China. In handling all outstanding questions in Tientsin, I hope that Your Excellency will bear in mind the existence of this sentiment in my country.”
- 3.
- As previously reported the matter has been referred back to London.
Repeated to Peiping for repetition to Shanghai, Chungking, Tientsin.