FOREIGN RELATIONS, 1934, VOLUME III



China and Japan's ability to carry out its policies. I did not receive
the impression that Mr. Tang is any the less patriotic because of
these convictions.
  Very respectfully yours,                       WILLYS R. PECK

                        [Enclosure-Extract]
   Memorandun by the Counselor of Legation in China (Peck)

                                     [NANKING,] February 14,1934.


  The mention of North China led Mr. Tang to speak of China's re-
lations with Japan. He observed that to understand Japan's attitude
toward China, one must take into account two or three facts. One
of these facts is that subordinate military officers in the field often
take the initiative and sometimes do not carry out faithfully the
orders they receive from their superiors. Moreover, there are many
disorderly Japanese characters, "Ronins", smugglers, etc. These
military subordinates and adventurers sometimes lead Japan further
than the Japanese Government has determined in advance to go.
  A more important fact, however, is that the Japanese activities
in Manchuria were, in effect, a manifestation of a peaceful revolution
in Japan. The Japanese Army felt that Japan was being menaced
by financial exploiters and by other economic and political factors.
The Army wished to eradicate these dangers, but if it attempted to
do so within Japan itself, it might be necessary to remove the Emperor.
This the Army did not desire to do. The exploits of the Army in
Manchuria were deliberately entered into as a means of increasing
the prestige of the Army and obtaining popular leadership, without
resorting to an actual revolution in Japan itself.
  It is not necessary to suppose that Japan has hostile intentions
toward China, since, as has been seen, the Japanese Army has its
own internal ends in view in taking the steps which it has taken
in Chinese territory.
  The circumstance that Japan's aggressive acts toward China have
an internal objective does not, of course, make the situation any
easier for China. Mr. Tang said that Japanese friends had pleaded
with him for friendly sentiments on the part of China toward Japan.
Mr. Tang remarked to them that it would be impossible for China
to entertain a friendly sentiment toward Japan, so long as Japan
remained in occupation of Chinese territory. If Japan really desired
China's friendship, it should remove the factor which rendered such
friendship impossible.



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