THE FAR EASTERN CRISIS



any ulterior motives against China need to entertain any fears con-
cerning her policy of national reconstruction and security.
   "In regard to the situation now existing between China and Japan
it should be emphasized that genuine and lasting peace between the
two countries as between any other countries should be built upon
foundations of good-will and mutual understanding and that it
would go a long way towards the laying of such foundations when
the existing unfortunate state of affairs could be rectified and when
the relations between China and Japan could be made to rest on a
new basis more in consonance with the mutual aspirations of the
two countries."
   [NANKING] April 19, 1934.

893.811/925: Telegram
     The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State

                                     PEIPING, April 20, 1934-noon.
                                     [Received April 20-7: 28 a. in.]
  184. Department's 87, March 1 [31], 4 p. m. and my 168, April 14,
noon.29 French Charge d'Affaires informs me that French Govern-
ment feels that a protest addressed to the Japanese authorities would
seem to imply the recognition of a privileged situation for Japan in
Manchuria and suggests that oral protest should be made by the
foreign consular authorities concerned to the local "Manchukuo"
au-
thorities concerned.
  I have not yet learned British Government's reaction.
                                                          JOHNSON

793.94/6588: Telegram
    The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State

                                      ToKyo, April 20, 1934-8 p. m.
                                   [Received April 20-11: 50 a. m.]
  72. My 71, April 18, 5 p. m.
  1. I have today received so many conflicting interpretations of the
reasons for Amau's enunciation of Japan's policy concerning foreign
"interference" in China that I do not yet feel in a position to
clarify the
matter to the Department. There are those who report "on reliable
authority" that the announcement was made without the authorization
or knowledge of Hirota who is reported to be angry and distressed at
Amau's action, said to have been taken to please the military with whom
Amau is now working in an endeavor to emulate Shiratori.'0  I know

' Telegram No. 168 not printed; it reported communication of Department's
views expressed in No. 87 to representatives of Great Britain, France, and
Ger-
many. See also footnote 23, p. 109.
' Toshio Shiratori, former spokesman at the Japanese Foreign Office.



115