793.94/2059: Telegram
The Consul at Geneva (Gilbert) to the Secretary of State
[Received 10:16 a.m.]
181. Consulate’s 173, October 11, 6 p.m.,25 paragraph 3. Drummond has handed me for communication to you the following message received today from the Japanese delegation in Paris. It refers to the Japanese Government’s reply of October 9 to the Chinese note of October 5th.
“First part of Chinese Government’s note states that ‘Japanese representative on League of Nations has formally declared for withdrawal of all Japanese troops in different districts and reestablishment of situation existing before September 18th[’] and adds that [‘]Council’s resolution ordered total withdrawal of Japanese troops before meeting of October 14th.’ As appears from Japanese representative’s repeated statement to Council, the withdrawal of Japanese troops in railway zone is conditional on security of our nationals in Manchuria. Moreover Council’s resolution of September 30th contains no provision ordering withdrawal of our troops before Council meeting of October 14th. Regarding points raised in second part of Chinese note, Japanese Government is prepared to define its attitude as follows:
- 1.
- Military operations undertaken by Japanese army along South Manchuria Railway line since incident of night of September 18 between Chinese and Japanese troops near Mukden, were designed solely to avert by preventive action the potential menace constituted by presence in these districts of Chinese armies in crushingly superior numbers. Japanese troops have in fact suffered considerable losses of men in spite of proclamation of nonresistance of Chinese troops.
- 2.
- Chinese Government proposes appoint Generals Chang Tso-hsiang and Wang Shu-chang to arrange with Japanese military authorities for suitable means for maintaining order in certain localities in railway zone after withdrawal of Japanese troops. The present concentration in these localities of armed Chinese soldiers to cope with any eventuality, although maintenance of order is sole object in view, [Page 159] would very probably under present circumstances, as at the time of incident, have regrettable effect upon troops’ feeling of serious impending menace. In view of extreme tension of national feeling on both sides, danger of conflict between troops of both parties is probably greater than at any moment hitherto.
- 3.
- Japanese Government considers most urgent task of moment is collaboration of our two Governments with a view to calming overexcited national feelings by rapidly establishing through direct negotiations fundamental points capable of constituting a basis allowing for resumption of normal relations. Once national feelings are allayed by direct negotiations Japanese troops might without overmuch apprehension return entirely to railway zone thus facilitating assertion of authority and maintenance of order in localities in question.
- 4.
- Japanese Government is ready to negotiate immediately with responsible representatives of Chinese Government in order to establish fundamental points referred to.”
- Not printed.↩