893.00/11655: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 8—11:15 a.m.]
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(2) As to the Chinchow situation: Koo’s tentative suggestion regarding Chinchow was communicated in my November 24, midnight, to the Department and appears to have been communicated by the French Ambassador in Tokyo to the Japanese Government, which received it as a firm offer from the Chinese Government. The Japanese chose to take this stand despite the fact that it was Koo’s intention merely to sound out the American, British, and French Governments and that Koo made his offer contingent upon Japanese guarantees to be given to these three Governments. Now the Japanese stoutly insist that, since their troops have been withdrawn to east of the Liao River, the Chinese will, if they fail to quit Chinchow, be [Page 642] guilty of a breach of faith. The Chinese maintain that, never having made such an offer, they therefore are not under any obligation to evacuate Chinchow, the Chinese Government’s last stand in the Manchurian territory. I understand the Japanese argue that their retirement was due to the Chinese offer, and I have been informed that the Japanese Government, through Minister Shigemitsu, has told the Chinese Government that the situation will become difficult unless the Chinese troops are withdrawn. I believe the League Council members may approach the United States with a view to having its Government, through me, in cooperation with the British and French Ministers, urge the Chinese to withdraw their forces from Chinchow. It is my hope that my Government will resist any overtures of this sort, since my British and French colleagues are in agreement with me that in the present state of affairs in China it would be dangerous for our countries at this time. To give such advice could lead only to the shifting to our countries from the Chinese Government any odium which attaches to such a policy. Nanking during the past week has been full of students from all over China agitating against the Government here regarding this matter, and feeling is running very high. There can be but one motive of the Japanese for eliminating the remnants of Chinese control centered in Chinchow, namely, to make effective throughout Manchuria the influence of Japan with a view to the encouragement of an independent régime amenable to Japanese authorities. As they have failed to achieve this by force of arms, they find it necessary to accomplish it by means of the League of Nations or the United States. I believe my Government should not permit itself to be maneuvered into such an action, and I do not think the Japanese intend forcibly to take Chinchow—certainly not if the result is obtainable through the agency of others.