revised Feb.02, 2000

Trickery convinces even the academia:

the case of the "Attila the Hun" telegram written by Chinese intelligence advisor

In the April 1998 issue of the Atlantic Monthly, David M.Kennedy, Professor of History at Stanford University, wrote that "there can be no doubt that the evidence amounts to a crushing indictment of the Japanese army's behavior. ...Even the Japanese Foreign Minister, Hirota Koki, reported after an inspection trip in January of 1938 that the "Japanese Army behave...in(a) fashion reminiscent (of) Attila (and) his Huns. (Not) less than three hundred thousand Chinese civilians slaughtered, many cases (in) cold blood".

However, according to Higashinakano Shudo, this telegram was written and sent out from Shanghai by Harold Timperley, a correspondent and also advisor to the Chinese intelligence service. It was never written by Hirota Koki, or anyone in the Japanese government.

The telegram actually comes in a set of two cables, #175 and #176. Iris Chang obviously chose not to present cable #175, which explains the circumstances in which the Japanese in Shanghai intercepted the cable, and claims that cable #176 was "generated" by the Japanese themselves.

After Toinpare's cabel was intercepted in Shanghai, Japanese authorities alerted Tokyo. Tokyo then sent cables #175 and #176 to Washington. These, in turn, were intercepted by American intelligence. #175 is the American translation of Japanese message.

Here are telegrams #175 and #176, from the National Archives and Records Administration:

From: Tokyo (Hirota)
To: Washington
January 19, l938
#206. Received from Shanghai as #175.
　　　　　The night of the 11th, Toinpare*, special correspondent of the Manchester Guardian was discovered by our censors as he was about to send a communication as given in separate message #176.**
　　　　　The military, after seeking advice from the acting official in charge, asked the correspondent to appear and after he had corrected the improper portions of the communication, he was told by the censor over the telephone on the morning of the 17th, that he could send it. But Toinpare* did not comply with this,and we had a protest from the British Consul-General and a request for an explanation as to Toinpare's being questioned by the Japanese military regarding his newspaper correspondence. We replied that this was a matter we would like to have settled directly between the acting official and Toinpare*.
　　　　　　On the afternoon of the same day at the press conference (Toinpare* made it a point to be there, though he had not been attending for a long time) the above matter was made a point of questioning. Toinpare* arose and stated he had been ordered before the Japanese military headquarters. The acting official explained carefully that that was not so, and that he was ready at any time to talk it over with Toinpare directly. After the conference the acting official went to Toinpare* and suggested they talk it over, but Toinpare* said the matter was now in the hands of the British Consul-General and that he could not discuss it further.
　　　　　It was very clear from Toinpare's* attitude that day that he plans to make trouble over the matter and the acting official who had to do with him was greatly displeased by his attitude. (It is said here that when Toinpare* went to Hankow recently he was paid by his friend Donald to take over propaganda work for the Chiang Kai-shek regime.)
　　　　　As it is likely this will be given large publicity by Reuters and the A.P, this message and the separate message referred to will please be sent on from London to all Embassies in Europe, and forwarded to Washington, New York and the West Coast of the U.S.

*Japanese spelling of name
** Not available
#1257 Trans.

From: Tokyo (Hirota)
To: Washington
January 17, 1938

#227. Received from Shanghai as #176

Extra message

"Since return (to) Shanghai (a) few days ago I investigated reported atrocities committed by Japanese Army in Nanking and elsewhere. Verbal accounts (of) reliable eye-witnesses and letters from individuals whose credibility (is) beyond question afford convincing proof (that) Japanese Army behaved and (is) continuing (to) behave in (a) fashion reminiscent (of) Attila (and) his Huns. (Not) less than three hundred thousand Chinese civilians slaughtered, many cases (in) cold blood. Robbery, rape, including children (of) tender years, an insensate brutality towards civilians continues (to) be reported from areas where actual hostilities ceased weeks ago. Deep shame which better type (of) Japanese civilian here feel - reprehensible conduct (of) Japanese troops elsewhere heightened by series (of) local incidents where Japanese soldiers run amuck (in) Shangai itself. Today North China Daily News reports (a) particularly revolting case where (a) drunken Japanese soldier, unable (to) obtain women and drink he demanded, shot (and) killed three Chinese women over sixty and wounded several other harmless civilians."

*This message was sent in enciphered English and is the one referred to in S.I.S.#1257

#1263