393.1124/6: Telegram
The First Secretary of Embassy in China (Stanton) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 16—3:29 p.m.]
73. With reference to the order issued by Wang Ching Wei regarding the deportation of a number of foreign publishers and journalists, the majority of whom are American,94 the following information has been received informally from a responsible official of the Wang régime: Wang has been increasingly annoyed by the biting criticism directed against him by certain foreign journalists and Chinese papers claiming foreign status in Shanghai. His efforts to win them over having failed, he decided to take action. The informant stated that this decision, which he intimated was not approved by some officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was made by Wang himself and was not dictated by the Japanese. He sought to make clear that this action does not indicate an anti-American attitude on the part of the “National Government” but is directed solely against the persons named who are regarded by Wang as being hostile to him and his régime. The informant added that if these persons or their publications cease attacking Wang the whole matter will be dropped.
While it may be that Wang’s order is not connected with the anti-American agitation which appeared following the recent Japanese gendarme incident at Shanghai,95 its issuance at this particular time appears to be more than a coincidence. In this connection it may be mentioned that the Nanking edition of the Tairiku Shimpo has adopted an anti-American tone during the past few days and further attaches prominence to small meeting of Japanese residents held in Nanking yesterday at which Japanese Y. M. C. A. workers denounced the United States and urged that Americans be driven from “our East Asia.”
Sent to the Department, repeated to Chungking and Peiping, by mail to Tokyo and Shanghai.