861.77/1693: Telegram
The President of the Technical Board (Stevens) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 5—2:30 a.m.]
Apparently reliable information more than 3,000 Japanese soldiers, civilian clothes, remained in Trans-Baikal distributed in small bands in the villages away from the railway; arms hidden. I think 12,000 came out. There are 2,400 in uniform in Harbin and many in civilian clothes and average 50 [peaceful] young men looking like soldiers arrive every day. I have no doubt there are at least 6,000 Japanese soldiers Harbin. Japanese advise the railway officials that the 600 railway men will remain here indefinitely. My cipher telegram July 19, 10 a.m.69 did not mean that I would remain here indefinitely waiting for negotiations to be concluded; I am much disconcerted by the failure to receive any information that [something definite] is imminent.
- Not printed.↩