793.94/2160
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs at Nanking to the Chinese Legation17
The Chinese Minister in Tokyo notified the Japanese Government on October 6th that General Chang Tso Hsiang and General Wang Shu Chang had been appointed representatives to take over places to be evacuated and asked for telegraphic instructions to the military commanders to begin to hand over. No reply has been received up to this date. The Chinese Minister has been instructed to deliver a second note as follows:
“The fulfilment of the Council’s resolution of September 30th, requires the immediate transfer to Chinese authorities of localities occupied by Japanese troops since September 18th. The Chinese Government, having pledged itself to assume responsibility for the safety of the lives and property of Japanese nationals during the process of withdrawal of Japanese troops and the reestablishment of local Chinese authorities and police forces, notified the Japanese Government on October 6th of the appointment of its representatives, and asked it to make immediate arrangements to enable Chinese troops to [Page 150] effectively take possession of the evacuated localities and thus to protect the lives and property of residents in conformity with the undertaking given to the Council.
“As no reply has been received and matters are extremely urgent, I am instructed to request (1) that the Japanese Government indicate the immediate localities to be taken over this week, and (2) that in the course of the day instructions be telegraphed to the military commanders so that reoccupation can begin tomorrow.
“I have the honor to add that copies of the present note are being communicated to the League Council and the Department of State and that reports of daily progress will be telegraphed to Geneva and Washington.”
Please ask immediately the Department of State to wire instructions to Peiping authorizing military or civilian representatives to accompany each unit proceeding to occupy the evacuated territories. All facilities will be given to these representatives to remain in contact by telegraph and wireless with their Legation and with Geneva. Reports of daily progress will be telegraphed to Washington and Geneva and their texts will be discussed with these representatives beforehand.
This is a matter of extreme urgency and the Chinese Government will welcome any suggestions as to the most effective means for representatives of the powers to watch the reoccupation of the territory and maintain contact with each other and with the Legations at Peiping.
A similar request is being presented to the members of the Council at Geneva.
- Copy of telegram handed by the Chinese Chargé to Mr. Hansford S. Miller of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs on October 10, 1931.↩