Office of the Historian

861.77/2143: Telegram

The President of the Technical Board (Stevens) to the Secretary of State

Harbin, July 6, 1921—5 p.m.
[Received July 7—5:27 a.m.]

Your July 1, 6 p.m.10 Statement that the Russian manager approached Japanese banks probably not true. Technical Board will take the stand manager has no right to negotiate loan without the consent of Board. Statement South Manchuria Railway has advanced coal true. Chinese Eastern at the present time owes South [Page 591] Manchuria 2,000,000 yen but the latter repeatedly declares no hurry for payment … By reason of failure of Allies to pay military transportation railway urgently needs $10,000,000 to pay debts, provide safe working capital, and for contingencies. Therefore, I approve Japanese suggestion of Allies loan but only to be expended Technical Board control. If such loan not made am certain big bond issue taels will be made. Have cabled Tokyo, Peking but advise the Department that I have no safe code either place. Did the Department receive my cipher telegram June 23 from Tokyo?11

Stevens
  1. Not printed; it contained summary of note no. 481, June 21, from the British Ambassador, p. 587, with instructions to “Cable your comment to Department, Tokyo and Peking.” (File no. 861.77/2137.)↩
  2. Apparently refers to no. 215, June 24, 11 a.m., p. 588.↩