Memorandum ensued. We shall never know which side fired the first shot. It is difficult also to say whether the incident was planned in advance by the Japanese or whether it was an accident which, involving their vanity, stirred to vigorous action by the warlike spirit which has been their outstanding characteristic during the past several years. ***” “The troops which started the trouble were stationed at Fengtai, the railway junction on the southern outskirts of Peiping. Although Fengtai is not mentioned in the protocol as one of the places where garrisons were stationed, it is a strategic point and has been previously occupied by foreign troops. The actual fighting took place not along the railway between Peiping and the sea, but at Lukouchiao, just southwest of Fengtai.” (According to the article, the presence of Japanese troops in the Peiping and Tientsin Area was justified by the stipulations of the protocol of September 7, 1901, which provided the settlement for the Boxer 6 disturbance of the previous year. In Article VII of the protocol, China recognized the right of each of the eleven signatory Powers to maintain a permanent guard in Peiping for the defense of its legation; and in Article IX she conceded the right to the Powers “to occupy certain points, to be determined between them, for the maintenance of open communications between Peking and the sea.” Japan was a signatory of the protocol, and has maintained a military force in Peiping-Tientsin area for the past thirty-six years.) Aug. 9 - The Oyama Incident occurred in Shanghai. 7 Aug. 14 - Commander Hasegawa of the Third fleet of the Imperial Navy declared the intention of the Imperial Navy to attack Chinese forces. Oct. 15 - The Cabinet Advisory Council was formed. It was composed of the following: General Ugaki, General ARAKI, Admiral Abe, Chuji Machida of the Minseito, Yonezo Maida of the Seiyukai, Kiyoshi Okite of the House of Representatives, Baron Seinosuko Go, Seihin Ikeda of the House of Mitsui, and MATSUOKA. (See F.6, S.22.) Nov. 6 - A Tripartite Anti-Comintern Pact was concluded with Italy and Germany. (See F.6, S.22.) Dec. 12 - The Panay Incident . The following is taken from the account of this Incident appearing on p.p. 380 and 381. “Genesis of the Pacific War” by Kosaku Tamura, published in Tokyo by the Institute of the Pacific, 1944. 6 The Boxer Rebellion 2 November 1900 - 7 September 1901 was against foreign influence in China. 7 This Oyama Incident August 9, 1937 led to a major battle in Shanghai with the victory going to Japan. There were estimated to have been over 180,000 deaths. The Massacre of Nanking came a little later beginning in December 13, 1937 and continued some six weeks. It resulted in an estimated 200,000 deaths of Chinese civilians. The Japanese Army committed atrocities on the march to Nanking also. Iwane MATSUI, the General commanding this mob of murderers was hung for War Crimes in 1948. He was old and sick with tuberculosis, had been taken out of retirement, and his subordinates refused to obey his commands. Prince Asaka was granted immunity from prosecution because he was in the Royal Family, but he is alleged to have given the orders which resulted in so much murder. This was one of the horrible atrocities of W.W.II. The Marco Polo Bridge Incident of July 7, 1937 is usually considered the beginning of the Japanese invasion of China. 203