The conflict was provoked by Japan, not us. The Japanese wanted to occupy Zhanggufeng, or at least to prevent us from fortifying it. They failed on both counts. We hold Zhanggufeng and we are bound by no promise to clear the mountain-top. The conflict was provoked by local militarists. The Japanese government was afraid it would spread and searched for an immediate cessation of hostilities. It came up against the will of the military and Shigemitsu.

Be that as it may, Japan has been taught a good lesson, as have the ‘Western democracies’.