He-Umezu Agreement
Encyclopedia
The was a secret agreement between the Empire of Japan
and the Republic of China
concluded on 10 June 1935 immediately prior to the outbreak of general hostilities in the Second Sino-Japanese War
.
, the Imperial Japanese Army
continued to encroach on Chinese territory. The Tanggu Truce
established a demilitarized zone
between Japanese-occupied territories and northern China
in 1933, but conflict continued unabated via proxy armies in Inner Mongolia
. However, with the appointment of Kōki Hirota
as Foreign Minister of Japan
, the Japanese civilian government attempted to improve Sino-Japanese relations
, and on 22 January 1935, Japan announced a policy of non-aggression against China. In response, Wang Jingwei
of the Chinese government announced a suspension of the Chinese boycott
of Japanese goods, and the two countries agreed to upgrade relations to the ambassadorial level. However, these improved relations between Japan and China were counter to the aims of the Japanese Kwantung Army for further territorial expansion.
On 29 May 1935 General Takashi Sakai
, Chief of Staff of the Japanese China Garrison Army
based in Tientsin, acting on the pretext that two pro-Japanese heads of a local news service had been assassinated, raised a formal protest to Kuomintang
General He Yingqin
, Acting Chairman of the Peiping National Military Council
. The Japanese Army demanded that:
On 30 May, Japanese armored forces paraded in front of the Chinese government offices in a show of force, and on 4 June, Sakai repeated his demands and threatened drastic action if the demands were not agreed to in full. However, on 5 June, additional demands were added:
On 7 June, forward units of the Kwantung Army moved to the front lines at the Great Wall. A verbal ultimatum was issued on 9 June, with a deadline for compliance set of 12 June.
Not prepared at the time to go to war with Japan when his forces were still tied down in a campaign to exterminate the Chinese Communist Party, Chiang Kai-shek
agreed to comply. The Agreement was signed by General Yoshijirō Umezu, Commander in chief of the Kwantung Army for Japan and He Yingqin for China.
. The truce lasted until 7 July 1937, with the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War.
Empire of Japan
The Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of...
and the Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
concluded on 10 June 1935 immediately prior to the outbreak of general hostilities in the Second Sino-Japanese War
Second Sino-Japanese War
The Second Sino-Japanese War was a military conflict fought primarily between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. From 1937 to 1941, China fought Japan with some economic help from Germany , the Soviet Union and the United States...
.
Background and history
Following the invasion of Manchuria and the Battle of ReheBattle of Rehe
The Battle of Rehe was the second part of Operation Nekka, a campaign by which the Empire of Japan successfully captured the Inner Mongolian province of Rehe from the Chinese warlord Zhang Xueliang and annexed it to the new state of Manchukuo...
, the Imperial Japanese Army
Imperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
continued to encroach on Chinese territory. The Tanggu Truce
Tanggu Truce
The Tanggu Truce, sometimes called the Tangku Truce , Japanese , was a cease-fire signed between China and Empire of Japan in Tanggu District, Tianjin on May 31, 1933, formally ending the Japanese invasion of Manchuria which had begun two years earlier....
established a demilitarized zone
Demilitarized zone
In military terms, a demilitarized zone is an area, usually the frontier or boundary between two or more military powers , where military activity is not permitted, usually by peace treaty, armistice, or other bilateral or multilateral agreement...
between Japanese-occupied territories and northern China
Northern and southern China
Northern China and southern China are two approximate regions within China. The exact boundary between these two regions has never been precisely defined...
in 1933, but conflict continued unabated via proxy armies in Inner Mongolia
Inner Mongolia
Inner Mongolia is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China, located in the northern region of the country. Inner Mongolia shares an international border with the countries of Mongolia and the Russian Federation...
. However, with the appointment of Kōki Hirota
Koki Hirota
was a Japanese diplomat, politician and the 32nd Prime Minister of Japan from March 9, 1936 to February 2, 1937.-Early life:Hirota was born in what is now part of Chūō-ku, Fukuoka city, Fukuoka Prefecture. His father was a stonemason, and he was adopted into the Hirota family. After attending...
as Foreign Minister of Japan
Minister for Foreign Affairs (Japan)
The of Japan is the Cabinet member responsible for Japanese foreign policy and the chief executive of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.Since the end of the American occupation of Japan, the position has been one of the most powerful in the Cabinet, as Japan's economic interests have long relied on...
, the Japanese civilian government attempted to improve Sino-Japanese relations
Sino-Japanese relations
China and Japan are geographically separated only by a relatively narrow stretch of ocean. China has strongly influenced Japan with its writing system, architecture, culture, religion, philosophy, and law...
, and on 22 January 1935, Japan announced a policy of non-aggression against China. In response, Wang Jingwei
Wang Jingwei
Wang Jingwei , alternate name Wang Zhaoming, was a Chinese politician. He was initially known as a member of the left wing of the Kuomintang , but later became increasingly anti-Communist after his efforts to collaborate with the CCP ended in political failure...
of the Chinese government announced a suspension of the Chinese boycott
Boycott
A boycott is an act of voluntarily abstaining from using, buying, or dealing with a person, organization, or country as an expression of protest, usually for political reasons...
of Japanese goods, and the two countries agreed to upgrade relations to the ambassadorial level. However, these improved relations between Japan and China were counter to the aims of the Japanese Kwantung Army for further territorial expansion.
On 29 May 1935 General Takashi Sakai
Takashi Sakai
-Notes:...
, Chief of Staff of the Japanese China Garrison Army
Japanese China Garrison Army
The was formed 1 June 1901 as the , as part of Japan's contribution to the international coalition in China during the Boxer Rebellion. It was renamed the China Garrison Army on 14 April 1912.-History:...
based in Tientsin, acting on the pretext that two pro-Japanese heads of a local news service had been assassinated, raised a formal protest to Kuomintang
Kuomintang
The Kuomintang of China , sometimes romanized as Guomindang via the Pinyin transcription system or GMD for short, and translated as the Chinese Nationalist Party is a founding and ruling political party of the Republic of China . Its guiding ideology is the Three Principles of the People, espoused...
General He Yingqin
He Yingqin
He Yingqin , also spelled Ho Ying-chin, was one of the most senior generals of the Kuomintang during Republican China, and a close ally of Chiang Kai-shek.-Early years:A native of Guizhou, He was healthy and bookish in his childhood...
, Acting Chairman of the Peiping National Military Council
Peiping National Military Council
Peiping National Military Council was the Republic of China's supreme military command in charge of the National Revolutionary Army forces in Northern China in the 1930s prior to the beginning of the Second Sino-Japanese War. As its name implies it was located in Peiping....
. The Japanese Army demanded that:
- [1] That Hopei Provincial Chairman General Yu Xuezhong be dismissed from his posts
- [2] That the Kuomintang cease all political activities in Hopei, including the cities of Tientsin and Peiping
On 30 May, Japanese armored forces paraded in front of the Chinese government offices in a show of force, and on 4 June, Sakai repeated his demands and threatened drastic action if the demands were not agreed to in full. However, on 5 June, additional demands were added:
- [3] That Tientsin Mayor Zhang Tingpo and Chief of Police Li Chun-hsiang be replaced and that Commander of the 3rd Military Police Regiment Chiang Hsiao-hsien, and Director of the Political Training Department Tseng Kuang-ching also be relieved.
- [4] That the all Kuomingtang military forces withdraw from Hopei.
- [5] That all anti-Japanese organizations, especially the Blue Shirts SocietyBlue Shirts SocietyThe Blue Shirts Society also known as the Society of Practice of the Three Principles of the People , the Spirit Encouragement Society and the China Reconstruction Society , was a secret clique in the...
be disbanded throughout China. - [6] That the assassins of the heads of the pro-Japanese news services be apprehended and dealt with, and that compensation be paid to the families of the victims.
On 7 June, forward units of the Kwantung Army moved to the front lines at the Great Wall. A verbal ultimatum was issued on 9 June, with a deadline for compliance set of 12 June.
Not prepared at the time to go to war with Japan when his forces were still tied down in a campaign to exterminate the Chinese Communist Party, Chiang Kai-shek
Chiang Kai-shek
Chiang Kai-shek was a political and military leader of 20th century China. He is known as Jiǎng Jièshí or Jiǎng Zhōngzhèng in Mandarin....
agreed to comply. The Agreement was signed by General Yoshijirō Umezu, Commander in chief of the Kwantung Army for Japan and He Yingqin for China.
Consequences
The terms of the Agreement gave Japan virtual control over the province of Hebei, under the aegis of the "North China Autonomous Zone". Although the Agreement was signed in secret, its details were soon leaked to the press, causing an upsurge in indignation and anti-Japanese sentiment in ChinaAnti-Japanese sentiment in China
Anti-Japanese sentiment in China is an issue with modern roots . Modern anti-Japanese sentiment in China is often rooted in nationalist or historical conflict, particularly in Japan's Japanese history textbook controversies....
. The truce lasted until 7 July 1937, with the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War.