793.94/3374: Telegram

The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State

PEIPING, January 1, 1932-11 a. m. [Received January 1-4: 15 a. m.]

2. Following from Military Attaché at Chinchow:

"December 31, noon. Chinchow Railway station resembles beehive, every possible car being pressed into service and loaded with troops, animals, baggage, to last inch space. Engines in every state of repair utilized mostly in pairs due to the power of locomotives being insufficient. Withdrawal in full swing attended by much confusion. Difficult to say when will be accomplished. Reported occupation Kowpangtze [by] Japanese December 30, 6 p. m., confirmed by troops who withdrew from there December 30, 11 p. m."

JOHNSON

893.00/11699: Telegram

The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State

PEIPING, January 2, 1932-10 a. m. [Received January 2-2:30 a. m.]

4. Following from American Consul General at Nanking:

“December 31, 4 p. m. 1. Sun Fo and other Southern leaders who went to Shanghai, December 25, returned December 27 and the session of the Central Executive Committee has been harmonious until it closed on December 29. In a manifesto the committee announced that it would shortly convoke a national emergency conference and a peaceful national debt salvation conference to formulate plans for overcoming the present national emergency. The organic law of the National Government was revised with the professed object of lessening strict party control and the President of the Executive Yuan has been given somewhat the status of Prime Minister responsible to the Central Executive Committee of the party.

2. The committee filled by election all the important party and Government posts giving a great preponderance to men from Southern provinces. Great stress has been laid on the necessity for national unity and all factions are represented in the party and Government organs. Feng Yu-hsiang 14 arrived in time for the closing ceremonies but the prospects for a successful coalition government are diminished by the absence from the capital of outstanding leaders such as Chiang Kaishek, T. V. Soong, Wang Ching-wei, Hu Han-min and Chang Hsuehliang. I have observed considerable doubt whether the members of the Government as now constituted will be able to work together harmoniously and efficiently.

3. The election of Eugene Chen as Minister of Foreign Affairs seems to occasion misgivings among Foreign Office officials. A Shanghai

"Former commander of the Kuominchun (People's Army) of North China.

banker, Huang Han-liang, is made Acting Minister of Finance with the asserted support of the Shanghai Chinese banking community. T. V. Soong and Wellington Koo intend to go to France almost immediately and Chiang Kai-shek shows no present intention of taking up his post in the party headquarters.

4. A prominent party official told me confidentially last night that the National Government and the Nationalist Party have signally lost in prestige of late through lack of success in coping with diplomatic and financial difficulties and with communism and flood conditions. He observed that the conquest of Manchuria by Japan [is?] the most effective factor in destroying popular confidence in the Government and Party working. He pointed out that the Nationalist Party is the only organized force working for the welfare of the nation and that its destruction would leave the country to communism and anarchy. He insisted that the Chinese Communist Party is well organized and that it is in close touch with the Third International.

5. The newly elected party and Government officials will assume office January 1st."

JOHNSON

793.94/3428: Telegram

The Consul at Geneva (Gilbert) to the Secretary of State

GENEVA, January 6, 1932-11 a. m. [Received 2:55 p. m.]

2. Department's 3, January 5, 6 p. m.15 The following is the text of the Chinese note referred to, addressed by the Chinese delegation at Paris to the President of the Council under date of December 26th, not 25th:

"Under the instructions of my Government, I have the honor to transmit to Your Excellency the following telegraphic message dated December 25th from the Acting President of the Executive Yuan:

'With a view to avoiding the aggravation of the situation in Manchuria, both China and Japan have accepted the obligations under the various resolutions of the Council of the League of Nations. On our part we have been sincerely carrying out these obligations. During the Council meeting of December 10 our delegate had, in connection with the second paragraph of the resolution of that date, made it clear among other things that China cannot tolerate the invasion and occupation of her territory by the troops of any foreign country.

According to reports we have recently received, however, the situation is daily becoming more critical. The facts are briefly as follows. On 21st instant under the pretext of bandit suppression the Japanese troops occupied Fakumen. Two days later Tienchwangtai was occupied by Japanese infantry and cavalry with armored trains on the Chinese-owned Kowpangtze-Yingkow Railway. At the same time Japanese planes also bombarded and machine-gunned Panshan. For the purpose of attacking Chinchow the Japanese are calling the regular Chinese army bandits whereas as a matter of fact they are hiring bandits in large number and providing them with guns to create disorders. More Japanese reenforcements are being sent to Shanhaikwan, Chinwangtao and other places.

It is beyond doubt that Japan is intentionally disregarding her obligations under second paragraph of Council's resolution on December 10th and that she

"Not printed.

is also ignoring Your Excellency's statement in regard to the same paragraph to the effect that it is indispensable and urgent to abstain from any initiative which may lead to further fighting and from all other action likely to aggravate the situation. The present situation in Chinchow and other places is becoming worse and more critical than before. I therefore have the honor to make this urgent appeal to Your Excellency for the immediate adoption of effective measures to deal with this situation with a view to giving effect to the resolution of December 10.'"

The text of this note was transmitted to the Secretary-General of the League under date of December 29 by Berthelot on behalf of Briand with the following covering letter:

"I have the honor to forward to you herewith for the information of the members of the Council a letter from the Chinese delegation handed to me by Mr. Hoo on the 28th instant.

I informed Mr. Hoo that the French Government and to my knowledge several other Governments also had already taken steps at Tokyo to draw the Japanese Government's attention to its engagement under the resolution of December 10th that it would refrain from any initiative which might aggravate the situation."

The foregoing are given in full as it is felt that summarization or excerpts therefrom might be misleading.

GILBERT

CHINA

NEGOTIATIONS FOR RELINQUISHMENT BY THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER POWERS OF EXTRATERRITORIAL RIGHTS IN CHINA'

793.003/491: Telegram

The Chargé in Great Britain (Atherton) to the Secretary of State

LONDON, January 2, 1931-6 p. m. [Received January 2-4:05 p. m.]

3. Department's 334, December 31, 1 p. m.2 discussed today with Sir Victor Wellesley 3 who first asked that the appreciation of the British Government be expressed for the information contained therein and the statement that no new American proposal would be submitted to the Chinese without first conferring with the Foreign Office. Wellesley stated on behalf of the British Government that they would submit no new proposals without first consulting the American Government. He further stated that at first reading he was in full accord with the first two paragraphs of the Department's telegram first above referred to and, after reflection, would give me further comment next week.

He stated the matter of extraterritoriality was a matter which the British Government was studying at the moment and although no conclusions had been reached it was thinking along the following lines, especially subsequent to a conversation Wang had with Ingram 3 at Nanking in the course of the last 10 days.

4

5

With the gradual cessation of civil war in China the demand for the abolition of extraterritoriality would unite all factions, and if no early gesture was made by powers might result in antiforeign boycott by Chinese. Foreign governments must meet this situation and better now than later, bearing in mind, however, that however much foreign governments offered to give way China would demand further concessions. However, a united front, especially between Japan, England and America, was essential, and a scheme for gradual abolition, giving away the shadow at first, to be followed later by part of the substance, must be worked out. Foreign governments were in a position to indicate to Wang that under present circumstances 60 percent of extraterritorial cases were today in Shanghai Settlement. Wellesley himself was considering the argument of China Association here that

1

For previous correspondence, see Foreign Relations, 1930, vol. I, pp. 353 ff. Ibid., p. 504.

2

8

4

C. T. Wang, Chinese Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Deputy Under Secretary of State of the British Foreign Office.

8 E. M. B. Ingram, Counselor of the British Legation in China.

716

extraterritoriality might better be abandoned in criminal cases than in civil cases. The China Association argues that Chinese courts would be competent in criminal cases, while corruption in civil cases would completely destroy foreign investment in China.

6

Foreign Office handed me today copy of memorandum, dated December 27, from Lampson to Wang in reply to memorandum from Wang, dated December 17, almost identical with that set forth in paragraph 1 of the Department's telegram 331, December 29, 6 p. m.' Last paragraph of Lampson's memorandum reads as follows:

"... His Majesty's Government do not understand necessity for message from Minister for Foreign Affairs and hesitate to believe that final sentence cloaks any intention on the part of Chinese Government by precipitate action to prejudge course of normal negotiations. His Majesty's Minister is instructed to add that His Majesty's Government regards it as most important to prospects of a favorable conclusion to negotiations, that atmosphere should not be embittered by threats on either side."

8

ATHERTON

793.003/493: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Minister in China (Johnson)

WASHINGTON, January 13, 1931-3 p. m.

14. Your No. 12, January 8, 1 p. m., especially paragraph 4. In order that the Department's view and objective may be clearly understood, Department submits the following:

10

1. Please note again contents of the Department's 452, December 31, 6 p. m.,1o and memorandum of December 27 to Chinese Legation.11 2. Department does not feel that either side should be regarded as "petitioners" in this matter. The American and the Chinese Governments have agreed to negotiate and are negotiating with regard not to future concessions but to disposal to be made of rights actually in existence.

3. The Department believes that the time factor is now of importance. Department's recent communications to London have been intended in part to cause the Foreign Office to realize that this Government believes prompt action and offer of some concessions desirable. The Foreign Office has expressed to London Embassy in informal conversations virtual concurrence in the views expressed by Depart

8

Sir Miles Lampson, British Minister in China.

Foreign Relations, 1930, vol. I, p. 503.

"Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs" in original memorandum. 'Not printed.

10 Foreign Relations, 1930, vol. II, p. 505.

"Ibid., p. 500.