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THE FAR EASTERN CRISIS

OCCUPATION OF MANCHURIA BY JAPAN, BEGINNING OF JAPANESE MILITARY AGGRESSION, AND EFFORTS OF THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER POWERS TO PRESERVE PEACE-Continued

Date and

number

1931 Nov. 7 (287)

Nov. 7 (884)

Subject

From the Consul at Geneva (tel.)

Information that Sugimura is attempting, on his own authority, to bring about parallel negotiations covering (1) evacuation and (2) the Japanese five points, reserving parts not relating to security pending the completion of evacuation.

From the Minister in China (tel.)

Page

390

Nov. 7 (885)

Nov. 8 (888)

Nov. 9 (889)

391

From Harbin: Further report of the fighting near Tsitsihar, with Chao Chung-jen's version (substance printed), and of Japanese troop movements; opinion of Japanese Consul General that Chinese are receiving Soviet aid.

392

From Mukden: Conclusion of Nonni River conflict by withdrawal of Chinese, and Japanese strengthening of position. From the Minister in China (tel.)

393

From the Minister in China (tel.)

From Harbin: Retreat of General Ma's troops; opinion that
Japanese intend to set up their own government at Tsitsihar.
From the Minister in China (tel.)

393

From Mukden: Proclamation by the Local Peace Maintenance Committee that it is functioning as Provincial Government and has no connection with Nanking or Marshal Chang.

394

Nov. 9 (288)

Nov. 9 (892)

Nov. 9 (289)

From the Consul at Geneva (tel.)

Information that Yoshizawa adopted Sugimura's proposal (outlined in telegram No. 287, November 7) as his own and telegraphed it to Tokyo.

From the Minister in China (tel.)

Information from Marshal Chang Hsueh-liang and Wellington Koo of serious fighting in Tientsin, and their opinion that Japanese are provoking situation to bring about coup; their request for impartial investigation by principal consular officers at Tientsin.

From the Consul at Geneva (tel.)

Explanation of procedure in keeping Department informed with respect to communiqués issued by Secretary General and by the Chinese and Japanese.

394

395

(Footnote: Department's approval.)

Nov. 9

From the Minister in China (tel.)

396

Request for authorization to communicate to the Acting Foreign Minister the substance of Department's representations to Japan.

Nov. 9 (290)

From the Consul at Geneva (tel.)

Receipt from Drummond of note addressed by Briand to the Japanese representative (text printed) respecting the seizure of salt revenues, pointing out that this action is incompatible with Japan's commitments before the Council, and requesting pertinent information.

396

THE FAR EASTERN CRISIS

OCCUPATION OF MANCHURIA BY JAPAN, BEGINNING OF JAPANESE MILITARY AGGRESSION, AND EFFORTS OF THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER POWERS TO PRESERVE PEACE-Continued

Date and

number

Subject

Page

1931 Nov. 9 (292)

Nov. 9 (293)

From the Consul at Geneva (tel.)

Conversation with Drummond concerning Japanese reply (text printed) to Briand's letter of October 29, reiterating Japan's intent to comply with September 30 resolution and suggesting that China may be contemplating questioning the validity of some treaties with Japan. Drummond's opinion that Japanese are not within the September 30 resolution in their protests, that they have violated treaties; also that publication of U. S. representations to Japan might be helpful. From the Consul at Geneva (tel.)

Information from Drummond that November 16 Council meeting will take place in Paris, and his desire, based upon certain points of policy (substance printed), that U. S. representation be continued.

From the Minister in China (tel.)

397

399

· Nov. 9 (893)

401

Nov. 9 (294)

From Tientsin: Report of firing in or near the Japanese
Concession and of uneasiness as to possible repercussions.
From the Consul at Geneva (tel.)

402

Nov. 9

Receipt from Drummond of identic telegram (text printed) sent to Tokyo and Nanking in the name of the President of the Council concerning armed conflict in Manchuria.

From the Consul General at Tientsin (tel.)

402

Report of the clash between Chinese police and plain-clothes men outside the Japanese Concession.

Nov. 9 (295)

Nov. 9 (411)

Nov. 9 (530)

From the Consul at Geneva (tel.)

Receipt from Drummond of Japanese Government's telegram (text printed) concerning Nonni River incident, explaining that Japanese troops had ceased to advance northward and their presence in the vicinity was solely for the protection of the bridge repair work.

To the Minister in China (tel.)

Instructions to request Consul General at Tientsin to collaborate with Colonel Taylor and report regarding the fighting; also to authorize him to participate in consular body investigation, if one is undertaken, but not to take the initiative in such action.

To the Chargé in France (tel.)

403

404

404

Instructions to communicate to Briand, personally if possible, Department's position relative to U. S. representations to Japan.

Nov. 9 (297)

From the Consul at Geneva (tel.)

406

Receipt from Drummond of Japanese communication (text printed) giving information of the withdrawal of a number of Japanese troops.

Nov. 9 (298)

From the Consul at Geneva (tel.)

406

Transmittal of telegram from Tokyo (text printed) denying the alleged seizure of salt revenues.

THE FAR EASTERN CRISIS

OCCUPATION OF MANCHURIA BY JAPAN, BEGINNING OF JAPANESE MILITARY AGGRESSION, AND EFFORTS OF THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER POWERS TO PRESERVE PEACE-Continued

Date and number

1931 Nov. 10

Nov. 10 (299)

Nov. 10 (322)

Nov. 10 (903)

Subject

Memorandum of Trans-Atlantic Telephone Conversation

Between the Secretary and Dawes: Secretary's instructions for Dawes to plan to attend the Council meeting in Paris, not to sit in on the meetings but to confer with other representatives on matters in which the United States is interested; explanation of Department's attitude and desire to bring about some solution so long as it is done by pacific means.

From the Consul at Geneva (tel.)

Transmission of report by Associate Chief Inspector of Salt Revenues (text printed) citing further seizure of salt revenues by the Japanese.

To the Ambassador in Great Britain (tel.)

Information concerning G. Howland Shaw's role in Paris; instructions to have Gilbert proceed to Paris, if it is deemed advisable, after the meeting has begun.

From the Minister in China (tel.)

From Harbin: Report of clash between the Japanese and Chinese, the latter being driven back to Sanchienfang, in the direction of Tsitsihar; opinion that this engagement is the most serious since September 18.

Nov. 10 From the Consul General at Tientsin (tel.)

Nov. 10

Nov. 10 (904)

Report of strict martial law and suspension of practically all business in Chinese city and Japanese Concession; statement by Japanese commander that trouble was due to Chinese politics which resulted in orders to protect Japanese Concession. Memorandum by the Secretary of State

Conversation with the Japanese Ambassador, who was informed that Dawes would be in Paris to confer with the representatives of other nations; discussion of the "fundamental principles."

From the Minister in China (tel.)

From Harbin: Report of quiet near Tsitsihar and Japanese ultimatum to General Ma to hand over government to Chang Hai-peng.

Page

407

414

414

415

417

417

419

Nov. 10 (534)

To the Chargé in France (tel.)

420

Instructions to inform Briand that the United States will be prepared to send observers to Manchuria if and when Chinese and Japanese agree on arrangements.

Nov. 11

From the Minister in China (tel.)

421

Receipt from Acting Foreign Minister of telegram (text printed) requesting U. S. representatives to investigate events at Tientsin. Request for instructions.

Nov. 11

To the Consul General at Shanghai (tel.)

421

Advice that Department prefers to have the Chinese Government receive information of U. S. representations to Japan through the Chinese member on the Council.

Nov. 11 (327)

To the Ambassador in Great Britain (tel.)

422

Announcement (text printed) that Dawes will be in Paris during the meeting of the Council.

THE FAR EASTERN CRISIS

OCCUPATION OF MANCHURIA BY JAPAN, BEGINNING OF JAPANESE MILITARY AGGRESSION, AND EFFORTS OF THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER POWERS TO PRESERVE PEACE-Continued

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Undated Memorandum by the Under Secretary of State of a Conversation
With the Counselor of the French Embassy, November 11,

Nov. 11 (328)

Nov. 11 (434)

1931

Advice from the Counselor that Briand's attitude toward the Manchurian matter is similar to the Department's; Under Secretary's observation that as France, Great Britain, and United States have military attachés in the Nonni River region, other observers seem unnecessary.

To the Ambassador in Great Britain (tel.)

Outline of Department's attitude and information that new Japanese memorandum appears to exclude a Japanese attempt to force a solution of issues not germane to troop withdrawal, but fear that Japan will renew at Paris its demands for settlement of long-standing questions.

From the Ambassador in Great Britain (tel.)

Page

422

423

426

Nov. 11

Conversations with Matsudaira and Simon, the latter suggesting that the immediate objective ought to be an armistice, that the time limit on Japanese troop withdrawal was unwise. From the Consul General at Tientsin (tel.)

427

Report of inquiry into causes of trouble at Tientsin.

From the Chargé in France (tel.)

429

Information that instructions in Department's telegram
No. 530, November 9, have been carried out.

From the Consul at Geneva (tel.)

429

Nov. 11 (724)

Nov. 12 (302)

Nov. 12 (109)

Nov. 12 (215)

Receipt from Drummond of telegram dispatched to Tokyo and Nanking (text printed) at Briand's request, reminding Governments to refrain from aggravating the situation.

To the Consul General at Nanking (tel.)

Instructions to inform Acting Foreign Minister that, prior to his request, Department had authorized its representatives to report on occurrences at Tientsin; advice that Department perceives no special need for sending Military Attaché there.

429

From the Ambassador in Japan (tel.)

430

Information from Shidehara that Japan is prepared to withdraw troops upon creation of satisfactory policing or upon acceptance of the five points.

Nov. 12 (224)

To the Ambassador in Japan (tel.)

431

Authorization for Military Attaché to visit Manchuria provided those of leading powers do also.

Nov. 12

From the Secretary to President Hoover to the Secretary of State
Transmittal of a memorandum by President Hoover (text
printed) containing certain suggestions for Dawes.

431

432

Nov. 13 (226)

Nov. 13 (545)

To the Ambassador in Japan (tel.)

Instructions not to imply approval of the Japanese proposals indicated in Ambassador's telegram No. 215, November 12.

To the Chargé in France (tel.)

For Dawes: Transmittal of Ambassador Forbes' telegram No. 215, November 12, with instructions that a noncommittal attitude should be assumed toward any such Japanese proposals at Paris.

432

THE FAR EASTERN CRISIS

OCCUPATION OF MANCHURIA BY JAPAN, BEGINNING OF JAPANESE MILITARY AGGRESSION, AND EFFORTS OF THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER POWERS TO PRESERVE PEACE-Continued

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(925)

From Mukden: Denial by Japanese Consul General of rumors that Pu-yi will be made emperor, and his opinion that troops will not be withdrawn by November 16.

Nov. 13 (926)

From the Minister in China (tel.)

434

From Harbin: Japanese bombing of Sanchienfang; safety of
American missionaries at Tsitsihar.

Nov. 13

From the Consul General at Tientsin (tel.)

434

Report that tension is somewhat relaxed; that two Japanese destroyers are at Tangku.

From the Minister in China (tel.)

435

Nov. 13 (927)

Nov. 13

From Mukden: Assertion that Japanese expect to obtain technical information through U. S. Consulate General for operation of the radio station, and that they have made no effort to place the station under Chinese control.

From the Consul General at Tientsin (tel.)

435

Press reports that Pu-yi has been taken to Dairen by
Japanese; information of British that he was taken to Mukden.
From the Minister in China (tel.)

436

Nov. 14 (933)

Report that Japanese have officially demanded withdrawal of Chinese troops to about 6 miles from Tientsin, under provisional note of July 15, 1902.

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Nov. 14 (217)

Nov. 14 (307)

Nov.

Transmittal of identic telegram (text printed) being sent by
British, French, and American Ministers, of interview with
Chiang Kai-shek, who cited the situations at Tientsin and
Tsitsihar and requested joint investigation and report.

From the Ambassador in Japan (tel.)

Information in reply to Department's telegram No. 226,
November 13, that Ambassador has carefully refrained from
making any statement that might be construed as indicating
U. S. attitude on new Japanese position.

From the Consul at Geneva (tel.)

Letter from Sze to Drummond (text printed) setting forth the gravity of the situation at Tientsin.

(tel.)

1034 From the Consul General at Nanking (eign Affairs of (1) plans

for taking over occupied places in Manchuria; (2) regulations
for the organization of the commission; (3) list of members
of commission.

436

437

437

438

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Information that now General Honjo demands to occupy railway station of Tsitsihar itself.

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