793.94/12425: Telegram
The Counselor of Embassy in China (Lockhart) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 15—8 a.m.]
111. A Secretary of the Japanese Embassy called this afternoon and stated that his Embassy has been informed and [by?] the Chief of Staff of General Terauchi’s61 forces that Chengchow will be attacked in the near future, that Japanese planes in a recent reconnoiter over Chengchow observing that Chinese military trains were located near churches, factories, and other property belonging to nationals of third powers, that this proximity might result at the time of attack in destruction of such property, and that, in accordance with the Japanese policy of avoiding damage to the property and person of nationals of third powers, it was suggested that the Ambassador might wish to take steps to persuade the Chinese authorities concerned to increase the disintegration [distance] between the military trains and the foreign property referred to.
The Secretary stated that he is making the same statement to other Diplomatic Missions in Peiping and that it is his understanding that similar representations are being made by Japanese officials to Diplomatic Missions at Tokyo.
Sent to Ambassador and Tokyo.
- Japanese Army Commander in Chief in North China.↩