893.00/6788: Telegram
The Minister in China (MacMurray) to the Secretary of State
Peking, November 25,
1925—5 p.m.
[Received 5:24 p.m.]
[Received 5:24 p.m.]
497. My 488, November 18, 5 p.m.
- 1.
- Japanese Legation confirms reports that Marshal Chang Tso-lin and his chief of staff, General Yang Yu-ting, have been placed in confinement at Mukden by order of Manchurian General Kuo Sungling and that there is dissension among Manchurian commanders at Shanhaikwan.
- 2.
- It also appears the [a?] fact that there is factional fighting among Manchurian forces at Chinwangtao and Changli and that General Li Ching-lin at Tientsin has declared independence of Chang. The railway is cut at Lanchow and trains run only to Tangshan.
- 3.
- Honanese officers are arranging billets some 5 miles west of Peking.
- 4.
- In these circumstances and considering general military and political instability throughout China I have recommended to commander in chief Asiatic Fleet that one division of destroyers be kept available at Shanghai for the present; that a second division be held in readiness for possible despatch to Chinese waters in the near future; and that similarly to last year a force of some 500 marines be in readiness at Cavite for immediate despatch to China should situation here develop warranting such action.
- 5.
- Please repeat to Navy and War Departments as at request of naval and military attachés.
MacMurray