793.94/5583
The Chargé in Great Britain (Atherton) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 8.]
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the Department’s instruction No. 217, dated September 16, 1932, enclosing a copy of a memorandum83 outlining the Department’s views in regard to the possibility of hostilities between Chinese and Japanese forces south of the Wall.
As Sir Victor Wellesley, the Assistant Secretary for Foreign Affairs in immediate charge of Far Eastern affairs, is absent from the Foreign Office on furlough, a member of the Embassy staff called this morning on the chief of the Far Eastern Department to ascertain informally the further views of the Foreign Office on the suggestion to propose the neutralization of the Peking area. The chief of the department said that the British Embassy at Washington had cabled a full summary [Page 281] of the memorandum, and that the British Legation at Peking had been instructed to comment on the suggestions put forward in the memorandum. So far as he knew, it was not the intention of the Foreign Secretary to form any conclusion—provided, of course, that no military developments which might affect the Peking area take place—until he had heard from the Legation. He explained that the Foreign Office did not, at the present moment, feel very apprehensive of a Japanese move south of the Wall, and believed that the Japanese Government was anxious to avoid military operations outside of Manchuria, as the Japanese Army is having enough trouble in Manchuria itself. He thought that junior Japanese officers were prone to resort to bellicose language, but that their statements did not necessarily reflect any definite policy of their Government. The chief of the Far Eastern Department was then reminded that the Japanese Minister of War was reported in the press yesterday as having threatened to take drastic measures against Chang Hsueh-liang “if necessary”, and the opinion was expressed that consideration of the neutralization proposals seemed to be pressing. The chief of the Far Eastern Department then said that the Foreign Office hoped to hear from Peking in the near future; but that if, in the meantime, any threat to the security of the Legation Quarter arose, he supposed the arrangements drawn up last month by the Legations, which, he understood, had been approved by the American, British and Italian Governments and “in principle” by the French Government, would be followed.
Immediately upon Sir Victor Wellesley’s return, the Embassy will again take occasion to discuss the question.
Respectfully yours,