793.94/3043: Telegram
The Chargé in France (Shaw) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 5—10:25 a.m.]
843. From Ambassador Dawes: Wellington Koo has telegraphed Sze to state in effect that his Government has not agreed to the withdrawal of Chinese troops south of the Great Wall, thereby upsetting the discussion of a neutral zone status. Koo’s accompanying statement to Sze regarding the condition of Chinese public feeling and the statement Koo wishes Sze to make to the League Council indicate that the Nanking Government is unable to control its policy and at present is in a similar situation to that of the Tokyo Government before Baron Shidehara and the Japanese military element reached their understanding leading to a partial withdrawal of Japanese troops.
The Japanese representatives in Paris have received lengthy instructions from Tokyo which have not yet been communicated to anyone, but it is expected that the Japanese position will be made known today. Further procedure of course is dependent upon this position. Apparently the best to be expected from the Chinese will be their acquiescence in the status quo in troop locations, both Chinese and Japanese. On the other hand, it is Drummond’s belief that the Japanese will maintain that their troops were withdrawn east of the Liao River on account of the Chinese promise to evacuate Chinese troops inside the Great Wall, but the Chinese now deny this.
In view of the foregoing, probably matters may move rapidly here today. [Dawes.]