793.94/3799: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Forbes) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 1—10:45 a.m.]
33. [Paraphrase.] Your 31, January 31, 2 p.m. At 3:15 this afternoon I called upon the Minister for Foreign Affairs and delivered your message almost verbatim. As usual the Foreign Minister noted it in longhand. [End paraphrase.]
The Foreign Minister stated that according to reports from the Japanese Consul General in Shanghai, the Chinese regular troops, which have been concentrating around the headquarters of the Japanese marines, commenced an offensive together with plain-clothes soldiers at about 11 p.m. on the 31st and that the Chinese shells fell in that part of the river where the Japanese flagship was anchored. The Japanese marines were obliged to act against this concentration. Reports, however, state that things are quieter today.
To the charge contained in your telegram that Japanese forces were utilizing sectors of other nations, he said he had no information that would lead him to believe it but would inquire and inform me.
He seemed greatly troubled at your statement that the Settlement must not be used as a base and asked if that meant that Japan could make no counterattacks and would have to sit still in their sector under fire which he said would result in the annihilation of the marines; if that was what you meant, he said it was inadmissible. He suggested that after the words “used exclusively for the protection of the Settlement” he would add “and the protection of their nationals.” I tried to explain to him that my understanding of your message was that the Settlement should be used and occupied only for the protection of the Settlement and not to be used as a base for offensive operations into the Chinese city outside, but his reply was that the proper defense of the Settlement might require counterattacking.
The British Ambassador advises me of the proposal of the Shanghai Defense Committees, which Mr. Yoshizawa also spoke of, attributing the suggestion to General Fleming,8 of the creation of a neutral zone and the withdrawal of the Japanese marines to within the position held on the 28th and the withdrawal of the Chinese Army also to a safe distance; the neutral zone to be protected by troops of neutral countries. He said that the Chinese Commandant had accepted this proposal but the Japanese Admiral had declined on the ground that it was tantamount to the withdrawal of the whole Japanese population. Sir Francis Lindley has strongly urged the acceptance of this [Page 173] proposal and, at his suggestion, I also urged it strongly, stating that the failure to accept this peaceable solution of the situation would indicate in the eyes of the world that Japan is determined on war.
Naval Attaché has been informed of the despatch of three additional cruisers and seven destroyers. This makes a total of 12 cruisers, 2 airplane carriers, 1 seaplane tender, 32 destroyers, 2 river gunboats and 1 mine layer in the Shanghai area (including the Nanking area) or on the way there from Japan. Other ships are reported ready to sail but the Embassy has no confirmation.
The Military Attaché has been informed by the General Staff that Japanese troops have not yet entered Harbin; that Chinese Eastern Railway officials have agreed to transport Japanese forces anywhere on their line; and that no decision has yet been made to send Japanese Army to Shanghai.
Repeated to Peiping.
- General George Fleming, of the British Army, commander of the Shanghai foreign area.↩