793.94/7482: Telegram
The Counselor of Embassy in China (Peck) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 5—9:35 a.m.]
128. 1. I called on Kung, Acting President of the Executive Yuan, December 4, 6 p.m., to seek information regarding Sino-Japanese relations. He refused to describe nature of the instructions given to Ho but evidenced fear that Ho would be outwitted by the Japanese into conceding too much. He said that any settlement reached would be only a stopgap and prelude to further Japanese encroachments. He said that when Tada first approached Shang Chen with his demand that autonomy of Hopei be declared, Tada stated clearly that the Japanese must fight the Russians and must have Chinese cooperation in the North, hence must be allowed to train the Chinese troops.
2. As I anticipated Kung inquired regarding the attitude of the American Government toward these discussions concerning fate of North China and whether the American Government would do or say anything if the Japanese took military possession of that area. I naturally replied I had no information on this point but implied doubt whether any public statement would impede Japanese activities in view of experience in 1932. Kung said 3 years ago Great Britain had not been ready to back up the United States but if both countries joined in some statement now Japan must pay some attention. Kung then said if Japanese advance into China were not stopped Japan would cut off relations between China and all other foreign countries and he asserted Japan’s ambitions included ultimate seizure of Hong Kong, other European possessions in the Orient and the Hawaiian Islands. I have replied that I did not dispute his assertion but did not believe the voters of America who determine American foreign policy were alarmed at such distant threats. To forestall request that I telegraph a message I called attention to news reports of conversations between the Department, the Chinese Ambassador and the British Government.