893.00/10033: Telegram

The Minister in China (MacMurray) to the Secretary of State

426. 1. Upon the departure last night of Chang Hsueh-liang,68 Yang Yu-ting69 and the principal remaining officials connected with the Fengtien regime, the control of Peking is in the hands of the committee of elder statesmen headed by Wang Shih-tseng,70 mentioned [Page 236] in paragraph 4 of my number 409, May 31, 10 p.m. [a.m.].71 One reliable Fengtien brigade of about five thousand men remains to preserve order in the city. Plans are under negotiation for the peaceful withdrawal of this force upon the arrival of the incoming Nationalist troops. Forces of Yen72 and Feng73 are reported within day’s march of city and question of which will first arrive is purely speculative.

2. All Manchurian troops are clearing this area without disorder. Heavy troop traffic has prevented operation of passenger trains between here and Tientsin since June 3rd. Both Tientsin and Peking remain quiet and there are apparent[ly] no signs of agitation.

MacMurray
  1. Son of Chang Tso-lin, and commander of Fengtien Third Army, under the Peking Government.
  2. Chief of Staff in Chang Tso-lin’s forces.
  3. Refers apparently to Gen. Wang Chih-chen, chairman of the Committee of Safety.
  4. Not printed.
  5. Marshal Yen Hsi-shan.
  6. Marshal Feng Yu-hsiang.