893.00/6184: Telegram
The Chargé in China (Mayer) to the Secretary of State
Peking, May 2, 1925—4
p.m.
[Received May 2—10:37 a.m.]
[Received May 2—10:37 a.m.]
179. My 171, April 24, 4 p.m.,30 and Legation’s 127, March 29, especially paragraph 1.
- 1.
- Feng Yu-hsiang continues to receive steady stream of munitions from Urga. Delivery of the 5,000 machine guns anticipated in near future. Apparently no attempt any longer to conceal supply of munitions from Russia to Feng. Understood all motor cars in Urga being requisitioned for this purpose. Mongolian forces under Soviet control being strengthened; 5,000 instructors, of whom 500 are Russian, introduced into Inner Mongolia. I am informed that on April 29 Fengtien army authorities took over temporar[il]y at Shanhaikwan and ordered mobilization of rolling stock there. Chang Tsung-chang recently mandated Tupan of Shangtung, which, on paper at least, consolidates Chang Tso-lin’s position from Mukden to Shanghai through Tientsin and Nanking. Tariff war tax [between?] Chinese Eastern and South Manchuria Railway continues. Efforts by Soviets to control Chinese Eastern increasing with Chinese opposition thereto strengthening. Soviet and Chinese railway officials openly quarreling.
- 2.
- All these circumstances make clash between Chang Tso-lin and Feng Yu-hsiang appear more imminent and possibly immediate. If this conflict takes place, while forces of Chang and Feng would do actual fighting, at least for the present, Japan and Soviets, in my opinion, would be real contenders for control Northern China. Military attaché requests War Department be informed. Substance transmitted to commander in chief.
Copy by mail to Tokio.
Mayer
- Not printed.↩