793.94/7808: Telegram
The Counselor of Embassy in China (Peck) to the Secretary of State
[59.] My March 18, 4 p.m. to Peiping.18 A joint communiqué was issued by the Foreign Office and the Japanese Ambassador late March 19th as follows:
“With reference to the question of readjusting Sino-Japanese relations, General Chang Chun, Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Hachiro Arita, Japanese Ambassador to China, had a series of four talks in the Waichiaopu between March 16 and March 19. Each conversation lasted from 2½ to 3 hours, nobody else being present besides the two diplomats. The conversations were in the nature of an informal exchange of opinions, both expressing their frank views in a free and sincere manner.
As the object of the parleys was to facilitate satisfactory progress of future negotiations for readjusting Sino-Japanese relations, no definite procedure has been arranged, nor was the scope of discussion limited to any particular subjects. All questions concerning the relations between the two countries were discussed, and no attempt was made to reach any conclusions.
The talks were conducted in a most friendly atmosphere throughout the 4 days and ended at 4:30 o’clock on Thursday afternoon (March 19), as previously arranged. Although a complete agreement on all points has not yet been achieved, the parleys may be considered to be very helpful towards producing a better appreciation of each other’s viewpoints.”
Chang Chun and Arita have held four lengthy daily conferences from March 16th to 19th inclusive. From such information as is available it appears that these conversations were actually, as reported in the press, more in the nature of an exchange of views than of negotiations and that no basis for future negotiations was agreed upon or any actual progress made toward a readjustment of Sino-Japanese relations. It appears that Arita did not make any definite [Page 88] proposals, one reason being his uncertainty as to his own future assignment and another reason being, possibly, lack of specific instructions based upon whatsoever “positive” policy may have been adopted in Tokyo as a partial basis for Hirota’s press announcement of March 17.
Arita is to talk with Chiang Kai Shek this afternoon and is planning to proceed to Shanghai tomorrow for a conference with Japanese Consuls General from various Chinese posts before going on to Tokyo.