Office of the Historian

893.01 Manchuria/71: Telegram

The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State

Peiping, March 25, 1932—1 p.m.
[Received March 25—8:45 a.m.28]

374. Following from the American Consul at Harbin:

“March 24, 4 p.m., number 39.

[Page 629]
1.
Yesterday new Chinese Eastern Railway flag consisting of a combination of the Manchukuo flag above and Soviet flag below was, raised on buildings of railway by order of the Board of Directors. I believe that the Soviet side made a concession in this direction solely in order to avoid local irritation.
2.
Reliable reports indicated that conditions are quiet at Manchouli, Hailar and Taheiho but very much disturbed along the east line of the railway and in the region east of Tsitsihar.
3.
Fifty auto busses carrying Japanese troops arrived at Pinghsien yesterday and returned last night.
Japanese Consulate General has informed me that Japanese troops are being sent via Pinghsien toward Sanhsing, which is General Li Tsze’s base, in order to clear the region nearby of brigands.
4.
Japanese troops are now on all branches of the Chinese Eastern Railway and on the Sungari River and are in positions to advance in five directions toward the Siberian frontier, west to the [sic] Manchouli, northwest to Taheiho from Tsitsihar and to Lahasusu and east to Pogranihnaya and to Possiet Bay from Korea.
5.
As Manchukuo authorities are unable to enforce embargo on export of grain because the frontier towns are not under their control they have requested the Commissioner of Maritime Customs to do so. Latter has requested instructions from Inspector General before deciding to enforce a measure that is aimed by the Japanese against the Soviet officials, who are the only parties exporting wheat and flour. In order temporarily to preserve the integrity of the customs it might be a wise course for the Inspectorate General to authorize the customs officials in Manchuria to allot a certain proportion of their revenue to the new government which Ohashi informs me needs revenue and is looking towards the customs and Salt Gabelle to supply it.”

[For the Minister:]
Perkins
  1. Telegram in two sections.↩