Edwin Sheddan Cunningham and the Change in the U.S. Government’s Attitudes during the January 28 Incident

Abstract

The January 28 Incident in 1932 was Japan’s first premeditated invasion of Shanghai, the gateway to East China. It was also the largest-scale and most far-reaching "hot conflict" between China and Japan between the September 18 Incident and July 7 Incident. Edwin Sheddan Cunningham, U.S. Consul General in Shanghai, was directly involved in almost all negotiations related to China and Japan during the incident and had a significant effect on U.S. decision-making in China. As the "window" for the United States to observe East China, the U.S. Consulate General in Shanghai quickly reflected the activities and positions of China, Japan and the United States in Shanghai from multiple angles. Apparently, Cunningham's activities in Shanghai were intended to protect American expatriates and national interests in Shanghai, but they involved complex changes in U.S. diplomacy with China. The rapid and repeated changes in U.S. diplomatic policy toward China resulted in uncertainties in Japan's policy toward China and brought about a complicated and volatile diplomatic environment for the National Government, which had a far-reaching impact on Sino–Japanese relations.