861.77/1727: Telegram
The Minister in China (Crane) to the Secretary of State
[Received 3:02 p.m.]
268. Your 239, September 18, 11 a.m. [6 p.m.] See our 166, July 9, 7 p.m.68 Legation informed by Minister for Foreign Affairs that Japanese Minister in presenting statement concerning withdrawal from Trans-Baikal orally stated that Japanese troops would be retained on the line from Harbin east to the Siberian frontier and also between Changchun and Harbin so as to prevent Northern Manchuria from being invaded by the Bolsheviki.
A note was sent on August 7 by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Japanese Minister setting forth comprehensive passport and military measures taken as a precaution by the Chinese Government to prevent entry into Chinese territory by the Bolsheviki. The note announced the earnest intention of the Chinese Government to keep out the Bolsheviki and its assumption of entire responsibility in dealing with this menace. In view of this, Japan was requested to withdraw [Page 711] the soldiers mentioned above at the same time as those in Siberia were being withdrawn.
In his reply on August 18, the Japanese Minister stated that it had been decided to withdraw Japanese troops west of Harbin despite fear that the Bolsheviki would enter Northern Manchuria from Heilungkiang and Trans-Baikal. In order to prevent this and to keep a connection between the Japanese troops in South Manchuria and those in the Maritime region and Sakhalin, it was necessary for Japan to retain soldiers south and east from Harbin, but in taking these measures there was no other intention than that of keeping out the Bolsheviki. This would place no obstacle in the way of China’s providing the railway guards in accordance with the agreement of April, 1919, among the Allies.