The China Affair and World Developments1 from November, 1938 to December, 1939
—Reviewed in Chronological Order—
Cabinet Information Bureau
1938
November 2 Japanese Government files a formal statement with the League of Nations of its intention of quitting further cooperation with all organs of the League.
The four-Power conference for the mediation of the Czecho-Hungarian frontier disputes meets in Vienna.
November 3 Japanese Government issues a statement elucidating future Japanese policy in the China Affair. Ceremony celebrating the complete occupation of the Wuhan area is held in Hankow. The second joint-committee meeting of the Provisional and Renovation Governments of China is convened at Nanking, and a declaration of anti-Comintern and peace policy is issued.
November 4 Japanese forces occupy Tungshan in Hupei.
November 7 Inaugural meeting of shareholders of the North China Development Company is held in Tokyo.
November 12 Complete occupation of Yochow in Hunan.
November 14 The Japanese Foreign Minister replies to the British, American and French representations of November 7 dealing with the free navigation of the Yangtze, stating the prematureness of opening the river.
November 15 Japanese naval air units raid Chengtu, capital of Szechwan Province; military air units attack Lanchow, capital of Kansu Province, Ningsia and Sian.
An agreement on cultural cooperation between Japan and Hungary is signed.
The President of the United States issues important statement on America's defence measures.
November 16 The Anglo-Italian agreement becomes effective. Great Britain formally recognizes the Italian annexation of Abyssinia.
November 17 A reciprocal commercial treaty between Great Britain, Canada and the United States is signed. The State Council of British Columbia (Canada) votes down an anti-Japanese resolution.
November 18 Lieutenant-General Rikichi Ando is named Commander of the Japanese military forces in South China.
Japanese Government replies to the American representations of October 8 regarding the maintenance of U. S. rights and interests in China.
November 19 Maritime customs at Canton is taken over by the Japanese.
November 21 Ambassador Ohshima presents credentials to Herr Hitler who emphasizes friendly relations between Germany and Japan.
The boundary between Germany and Czecho-Slovakia is finally delimited.
November 22 An economic conference representing Japan, Manchoukuo and China is held in Tokyo.
November 23 An agreement on
1 Continued from the Chronology published in the February, 1939, issue.
cultural cooperation between Germany and Italy is signed.
November 24 Conversations between Great Britain and France are held in Paris.
November 25 Peace preservation Committee for the Wuhan cities is organized at Hankow.
An Agreement on cultural cooperation between Japan and Germany is signed.
November 28 A general meeting of representatives of the national movement for the establishment of a new central government in China is held in Nanking.
November 30 Japanese Government, in the presence of H.I.M. the Emperor, decides upon a permanent policy for the settlement of Sino-Japanese relations after the fall of the Wuhan cities.
An anti-government general strike breaks out in France.
December 1 Wang Ke-min, chairman of the Executive Committee of the Provisional Government of China, issues from Peking an appeal "To the People of China." A Sino-Japanese economic league is organized at Tientsin.
The East Asia Cultural Cooperation Council meets at Tokyo.
An agreement fixing the boundary between Poland and Czecho-Slovakia is signed.
December 2 Italy enters the London Treaty.
December 3 Kiukiang in Kwangtung Province is occupied by Japanese forces.
December 6 German Condor plane makes a forced landing in Manila Bay.
Franco-German non-aggression pact is signed.
December 9 General Sugiyama appointed Commander of the Japanese forces in North China.
The 8th Pan-American Council meets at Lima
December 11 German Nazi Party is completely victorious at the Memel elections.
December 13 Ambassador Togo rejects the Soviet proposal on the auctioning of the leases in the fisheries dispute between Japan and U.S.S.R. The negotiations make no progress.
December 16 The China Affairs Board is created as the central organ in the construction of a new order in East Asia.
Wang Ching-wei Leaves Chungking
December 18 Wang Ching-wei, Vice-President of the Nationalist Party and Chairman of the National Administrative Advisory Council, leaves the Chungking Government.
The agreement between France and Italy is abrogated.
December 20 The Federal Reserve Bank of China in Peking issues small denomination notes for circulation in North China.
Peace preservation committee is organized at Canton.
December 22 Prince Konoe, Prime Minister, issues statement on the fundamental Japanese policies to readjust relations between China and Japan.
The Pan-American Council adopts the Lima declaration.
Aggravation of relations between Germany and the United States is reported.
December 24 The 74th session of the Imperial Diet is convened.
December 26 The Military Department of the Imperial Headquarters announces the results of military operations in China for the period July, 1937, to November, 1938: Chinese killed 823,000; wounded, estimated at 2 millions. Japanese losses were 47,133 killed. Area occupied by Japanese forces: 1,515,696 square kilometres, (twice the size of Japan).
A treaty of commerce between
Poland and the U.S.S.R. is concluded.
December 28 Chiang Kai-shek refutes the Konoe statement of December 22.
December 30 Wang Ching-wei addresses a statement to Chiang Kai-shek from Hanoi.
The Navy Department of the Imperial Headquarters announces the results of naval operations in China during the year 1938: number of Chinese gun-boats damaged, 7 aggregating 4,600 tons; smaller ships, 12 totalling 3,180 tons; Chinese military planes destroyed during 1937 and 1938, 1,293 against a Japanese loss of 113 planes.
December 31 The United States of America issues a notification to Japan in the matter of the Open Door policy in China.
1939
January 1 The Chinese Nationalist Party expels Wang Ching-wei.
January 3 Lieutenant-General Otozo Yamada is named Commander of the Japanese forces in Central China.
The Provisional Government in Peking devaluates the note-issue for the second time.
Oxford University issues a statement in support of the Chiang Kai-shek régime.
A collision between Czech and Hungarian frontier forces is reported.
U. S. Congress opens its 76th session.
Hiranuma Comes to Power
January 4 The Konoe Cabinet tenders its resignation to the Throne.
January 5 Baron Kiichiro Hiranuma forms new cabinet by Imperial Command. Prince Konoe becomes President of the Privy Council, replacing Baron Hiranuma.
Polish-German conversations are held at Berchtesgaden.
January 6 British Government increases fund for the Exchange Equalization Account.
January 8 Wang Ching-wei's communication to Chiang Kai-shek is made public.
Negotiations between Japan and the U.S.S.R. on the fisheries question are reopened.
January 10 Hungary formally recognizes Manchoukuo.
January 12 President Roosevelt issues a special message on national defence.
January 13 A communiqué on the Anglo-Italian conversations is published, indicating a divergence of views.
Hungary announces her intention of joining the Anti-Comintern pact.
January 14 The British note to the Japanese Government in connection with Japan's policy in China is received.
January 15 The Chungking Government announces the suspension of interest payments on foreign loans.
January 16 Manchoukuo announces her entry into the Anti-Comintern Pact.
January 19 The French note to the Japanese Government in connection with Japan's policy in China is received.
January 20 A plenary session of the Fifth Central Executive Committee of the Kuomintang is called. The session adopts decisions on the unity of all anti-Japanese parties and drafts schemes for the development of South-Western China. Chiang Kai-shek's address stresses necessity for continued resistance to Japan.
The League of Nations votes in support of the Chiang Kai-shek régime and condemns Japan.
January 21 The 74th session of the Imperial Diet reopens after the New Year's holidays with ministerial addresses.
January 24 The third joint-committee
meeting of the Provisional and Renovation Governments of China makes declaration in response to the Konoe statement.
January 25 German Foreign Minister von Ribbentrop visits Poland.
January 26 General Wu Pei-fu makes statement in connection with his sponsorship of a movement for saving China.
The Fifth Central Executive Committee of the Kuomintang frames a new plan for further cooperation with the Chinese Communist Party.
Barcelona falls to the Franco forces.
The Japanese plane "Nogi" arrives safely at Bangkok, completing a 5,000 km. good-will flight to Thailand.
January 29 Japanese naval air forces bomb Nanning in Kwangsi Province.
January 30 The Peace-and-National-Salvation Association of China issues statement on their movement led by General Wu Pei-fu.
German Reichstag is convened.
Soviet Government makes public the third five-year programme.
February 1 A Supreme Defence Commission is created in the Nationalist Government at Chungking.
February 2 Western borders of Manchoukuo invaded by Soviet units.
Japanese submarine "I" No. 63 sinks in the straits between Kyushu and Shikoku; entire crew of 81 perish.
The severance of diplomatic relations between Hungary and the U.S.S.R. is reported.
February 4 The Grand Council of the Fascist Party meets.
Hungary proclaims a state of siege.
The Yugoslavia Cabinet resigns.
February 7 A treaty of Commerce between Italy and the U.S.S.R. is signed.
February 9 Japanese Government at a cabinet meeting adopts measures for strengthening the national spiritual mobilization programme.
Belgian Cabinet resigns.
General Franco announces the occupation of Minorca.
Occupation of Hainan Island
February 10 Hainan Island, off the South China coast, is surprised by the Japanese landing forces under Vice-Admiral Nobutake Kondo, Commander of the Imperial Naval Forces in South China. Kiungchow and Haikow fall into the hands of the Japanese.
Japanese Consul-General Miura lodges a protest with the Shanghai Municipal Council in connection with continued terrorism.
H.H. Pope Pius XI passes away.
February 13 The House of Representatives of the Imperial Diet consents to Budgetary Bills for 1939, including the Budget for the General Account amounting to 3,694 million yen.
The French Ambassador, Charles Arsene-Henry, makes representations to the Japanese Government in connection with Japanese occupation of Hainan Island.
A treaty of commerce between Germany and Italy is concluded.
American naval manœuvres commence.
February 14 British Ambassador Sir Robert Craigie makes representations to the Japanese Government in connection with Japanese occupation of Hainan Island.
A Japanese naval force occupies Samah, Yulinkan and Ai-hsien in Hainan Island.
The House of Representatives of the Imperial Diet adopts decision to maintain Japan's fisheries rights in Russian waters.
February 17 American Ambassador Joseph C. Grew adopts steps similar to those taken by the French and British ambassadors regarding Japanese occupation of Hainan Island.
February 21 Mistaken bombing of British territory near Shunchun, on Canton-Kowloon Railway, by a Japanese military flier creates incident.
February 22 Japan requests British authorities to put down terrorism in the British Concession in Tientsin.
February 23 Japanese forces occupy Yokiakow, important point on the Han River.
The House of Representatives of the U.S. Congress votes down a bill for fortifying Guam Islands.
February 24 Manchoukuo and Hungary formally enter into the Tripartite Agreement against the Comintern.
February 25 The Governor-General of French Indo-China announces blockade of Camranh Bay.
February 26 Hirosi Saito, former Ambassador to U. S. A., passes away in Washington.
February 27 The Franco Government of Spain is formally recognized by Great Britain and France, bringing to a close the civil war.
February 28 Manuel Azana, President of Spain, elected by the Popular Front Party, resigns.
Japanese art exhibition is opened in Berlin.
March 1 Japanese Consulate in Taiyuan, Shansi Province, is opened.
March 2 Weiyin, Weian and Kiukow, in Hupei Province, are occupied by Japanese forces.
March 3 Details of peace preservation measures for Shanghai are decided upon at meeting of the Japanese representatives and the Municipal Council.
The Japanese Army in North China announces the results of their campaign in central and southern districts of Hopei Province: Chinese killed 4,311; prisoners 490. Japanese losses 58 killed, 152 wounded.
A Japanese force takes Hsukow, in Kiangsu Province.
March 4 Haichow, in Kiangsu Province, is occupied by a Japanese detachment.
March 7 The Imperial Diet passes the General Budget for 1939-40 fiscal year.
March 8 The Imperial Household Department announces the name of the new-born Imperial Princess as Sugano-Miya Takako.
March 10 S. Bose, President of the People's Council of India, denounces British Government at annual convention of the Council.
The 18th general meeting of the Soviet Communist Party is held in Moscow.
March 11 Japanese forces enter Wenteng-hsien in Shantung Province.
The Provisional Government in Peking promulgates laws for punishing manipulators of the money market and to enforce prohibition of the circulation of former bank notes.
March 12 Enthronement of H.H. Pope Pius XII takes place in Rome.
March 14 H. I. M. the Emperor pays homage in person at his father's mausoleum at Tama, and makes a visit to the third special military hospital at Haramachida.
German Advance into Czecho-Slovakia
Czecho-Slovakian Government falls as German military units invade the country. Slovakia declares its independence.
March 15 Poland recognizes the independence of Slovakia. Czech territory is declared a protectorate by Germany under the name of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. Ruthenia declares independence.
March 16 Slovakia becomes a protectorate of Germany.
March 17 The American State Department issues statement on the Czech situation.
March 18 Great Britain and France protest against German action in relation to Czecho-Slovakia.
March 2 Tsen Chung-ming, Secretary
to Wang Ching-wei, is assassinated at Hanoi.
March 22 Fengsin and Anki, in Kiangsi Province, are occupied by Japanese forces.
Memel reverts to Germany.
March 23 An agreement between Germany and Slovakia is concluded.
An Agreement on cultural cooperation between Japan and Italy is signed.
March 24 British Parliament passes equalization fund in connection with Chinese currency issue.
March 26 The 74th session of the Imperial Diet adjourns after passing 89 bills including the 1938-39 Budget amounting to over 9,400,000,000 yen.
March 27 Nanchang, in Kiangsi Province, falls to Japanese forces.
March 28 Japanese Government promulgates law establishing National Spiritual Mobilization Commission, and names its members.
British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain announces the organization of an anti-German front.
The surrender of Madrid to the Franco forces is formally announced.
The Indian Legislative Assembly rejects ratification of the commercial agreement between England and British India.
March 30 The fourth joint-committee meeting of the Provisional and Renovation Governments of China adopts concrete plan for promoting the Peace and National Salvation Movement.
The Japanese Government announces the placing of Sinnan, or Spratley Islands, under jurisdiction of the Government-General of Formosa.
March 31 Wang Ching-wei issues his third plea for peace in China.
Imperial ordinances are issued pertaining to the limitation of working hours in factories, the control of wages, the training of technicians in schools and factories and the limitation of the number of workers to be newly employed in factories. Competent authorities place the goal of national savings at 10,000,000,000 yen for the fiscal year 1939-40. The revised Military Service Law comes into force.
Britain Supports Poland
British Prime Minister announces Britain's support of Poland.
April 1 The Japanese Board of Electricity is established. The Central Aviation Laboratory commences work.
The United States of America formally recognizes Franco régime in Spain.
April 2 Reconstruction of the Tientsin-Pukow Railway is completed.
Kaoan, in Kiangsi Province, is occupied by Japanese forces.
Provisional fishery agreement between Japan and the U.S.S.R. is signed.
April 3 The King of Iraq dies following an automobile accident.
April 5 Great Britain and Poland conclude a treaty of mutual assistance.
M. Albert Lebrun is re-elected President of the French Republic.
April 7 A telegraph office is opened in Hainan Island by the Japanese.
Harumichi Tanabe and General Kuniaki Koiso are installed as Communications and Overseas Ministers respectively.
Italy announces the dispatch of forces to Albania.
Spain expresses her intention of entering the Anti-Comintern Agreement.
April 8 Wang Ching-wei proclaims his fourth appeal to Chungking.
Japanese naval airmen bomb Yunnan, capital of Yunnan Province.
April 9 Cheng Hsi-keng, superintendent of the Tientsin maritime customs, is assassinated.
Japanese plane "Soyokaze" leaves Tokyo on good-will flight to Iran,
arriving at destination on April 15.
April 11 Anpei, important position in Suiyuan Province, falls to the Japanese forces.
Hungary leaves the League of Nations.
April 13 The Grand Council of the Fascist Party proclaims the annexation of Albania by Italy.
Aggravation of Political Situation in Europe
April 14 President Roosevelt dispatches peace messages to Herr Hitler and Signor Mussolini.
April 16 Tamchow, in Kwangtung Province, occupied by Japanese forces.
April 18 Lushan, in Kiangsi Province, captured by Japanese forces.
Charles Kramer introduces two anti-Japanese bills before U.S. Congress.
April 19 The revised Ordinance Concerning Young Men's Schools is promulgated.
April 20 Special Municipal Government of the Wuhan Cities is created. The so-called April offensive of the Chiang Kai-shek army is crushed by Japanese counter-operations.
Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain announces the creation of Munitions Ministry.
April 21 A federation of peace-and-national-salvation associations is organized at Hankow.
April 26 Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain discloses the details of British conscription system.
April 28 Her Majesty the Empress grants a donation of 500,000 yen for the prevention of tuberculosis.
Germany notifies Great Britain of abrogation of the Anglo-German Naval Agreement.
April 29 Japan celebrates the 38th birthday of her Emperor.
Prince Teh installed as Chairman of the General Affairs Committee of the Federation of Autonomous Governments of Mongolian Provinces.
May 1 Hwa-Hsing Commercial Bank is established for the rehabiliation of China.
Japanese Cabinet adopts decision establishing Tuberculosis Prevention Society in response to the benevolent wishes of Her Majesty the Empress.
May 3 Foreign Vice-Minister Renzo Sawada makes representations to British and American Ambassadors in Tokyo proposing a reorganization of the Shanghai Municipal Council.
M. M. Litvinov, Commissar of Foreign Affairs of the Soviet Union, resigns and is succeeded by V. M. Molotov.
French Government announces an embargo on Japanese goods.
May 4 Japanese naval air forces raid Chungking for the first time.
German good-will plane, piloted by Baron Friherr von Gablenz, arrives at Haneda Air Port, Tokyo.
May 5 Polish Foreign Minister Beck explains rejection of German demands.
The Japanese Cabinet acknowledges the proposed general programme for price control.
May 8 Spain leaves the League of Nations.
May 9 The four Scandinavian countries declare their neutrality in case of war.
May 11 Authorities of the Shanghai foreign settlement issue an emergency proclamation.
Outer Mongolian armies invade Manchoukuo territory at Nomonhan.
Conclusion of a commercial treaty between Great Britain and Rumania is made public.
Kulangsu Question
May 12 A Japanese landing party occupies Kulangsu for the preservation of peace and order.
Agreement between Great Britain and Turkey is concluded.
May 16 British Ambassador Sir
Robert Craigie makes representations to the Japanese Foreign Office in connection with the Kulangsu question.
A new bill for the revision of the Neutrality Act is introduced into U.S. Congress.
May 17 Great Britain, France and the United States land forces at Kulangsu.
H. M. King George VI visits Canada.
May 20 The Five-Ministers' Conference comes to a decision regarding Japan's attitude toward European countries in the acute international political situation. Prime Minister Baron Hiranuma is received in audience by the Emperor and submits the decision to the Throne.
May 22 His Majesty the Emperor reviews in person representatives of all student bodies in Japan on the 15th anniversary of the promulgation of the Ordinance placing students under discipline of military officers in active service.
Treaty of Friendship and Alliance is concluded between Germany and Italy.
May 25 The Third Supreme Council of the U.S.S.R. is convened.
May 27 The Council of the League of Nations adopts resolution supporting the Chiang Kai-shek régime.
May 29 The Imperial Army discloses the results of the warfare in China up to April 30, 1939: Chinese killed, 936,345; other losses estimated at 2,300,000. Japanese losses, 59,998 killed.
May 31 The Imperial Navy reports losses of Chinese planes as 1,561 up to March 31, 1939, against that of Japanese planes, 116.
Blockade of the British Concession in Tientsin
June 1 Japan and Manchoukuo formally recognize Slovakia.
June 3 Soviet units unlawfully penetrate into Chanlingtze, Manchoukuo.
June 6 The British Consul-General at Tientsin rejects Japanese demands for the surrender of the Chinese charged with the assassination of Cheng Hsi-keng, Customs Superintendent.
June 7 German non-aggression pacts with Latvia and Estonia are signed.
The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation at Tientsin stops selling foreign currencies. The Chinese legal tender notes begin rapid depreciation.
June 9 Ishui and Luhsien, in Shantung Province, fall to the Japanese after 6-day operations.
H.M. King George VI visits the United States and is received by President Roosevelt at the White House.
June 10 The poisoning of several officials occurs at banquet given in the Japanese Consulate-General in Nanking.
June 12 Wang Ching-wei issues pronouncement on "the actual facts of Chinese resistance."
British Foreign Secretary Viscount Halifax, before the House of Lords, refers to the China Affair declaring Great Britain cannot but regard with gravity the standing menace to British rights and interests in China resulting from Japan's actions.
June 14 The Japanese Army blockades the British and French Concessions in Tientsin.
June 15 British special mission begins negotiations with the Soviet authorities.
Collision between German and Polish frontier guards is reported.
June 16 The Outer Mongolian army invades Manchoukuo crossing the Khalha River. Soviet planes from Outer Mongolia bomb the Kanchuerhmiao district, Manchoukuo.
British Government voices determination to protect British rights and interests in China.
Soviet Government publishes communiqué in connection with the Anglo-Soviet negotiations.
June 19 Japanese authorities in Tientsin declare principal aim of the blockade of foreign concessions is to secure British consideration of their demands.
June 20 Foreign Minister Hachiro Arita rejects British proposal made through Ambassador Sir Robert Craigie in connection with an amelioration of the Japanese blockade of foreign concessions in Tientsin.
June 21 Japanese forces occupy Swatow, last remaining Chinese port of any size. Yuanku, in Shansi Province, falls to the Japanese.
The Foreign Office urges third Powers to appreciate Japan's purpose in effecting military operations at Swatow.
Third conference between Great Britain, France and the U. S. S. R. meets in Moscow.
June 22 One hundred and fifty Soviet war-planes cross the western Manchoukuo border near Kanchu, 49 of which are shot down by the Japanese air-force.
A peace preservation committee is organized at Swatow.
June 24 A Japanese landing party occupies the Chushan Islands commanding Hangchow Bay.
Japanese Ambassador Mamoru Shigemitsu sees British Foreign Secretary Viscount Halifax in London in regard to pending diplomatic matters between Great Britain and Japan.
Agreement is concluded between Great Britain and the United States for the exchange of raw materials.
June 24 Germany and Denmark exchange ratification of the non-aggression treaty.
June 25 Conclusion of a commercial treaty between Soviet Russia and the Chungking Government of China is proclaimed.
June 26 British Ambassador Sir Robert Craigie calls on Foreign Minister Hachiro Arita and proposes the opening at Tokyo of conversations for settling the Tientsin issue.
June 27 Japanese war-planes engage 200 Soviet machines in combat above Lake Buir and shoot down 98.
June 28 Great Britain proposes to Germany new naval agreement.
British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain makes announcement in connection with the Tientsin issue.
June 30 The British land small force at Foochow in Fukien Province.
Ambassador Shigenori Togo files protest with the Soviet Government in connection with fisheries dispute.
(to be continued)