793.94/1804: Telegram

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

602. My 599, September 1917 and 600, September 19, 11 a.m. [noon].

Wellington Koo18 has just come to me from Marshal Chang Hsueh-liang to confirm reports contained in my two telegrams above referred to and to say that Japanese military forces were in occupation of the city of Mukden and that they had placed troops at all administrative offices including the Marshal’s headquarters. Occupation of Kow pangtze cuts Manchuria off completely from China. Koo stated that Marshal Chang had reported matter to Nanking. In the course of conversation Koo brought up League possible action on the part of China or powers either under the Covenant of the League,19 the Kellogg pact20 or article VII of the Nine-Power Treaty regarding principles and policies.21 With reference to the treaty regarding principles and policies he suggested possibility of the United States starting a discussion among interested powers.

I told Koo that I had informed Department of incidents thus far reported to me, that I was not in a position to know what attitude my Government would take as to the basis for the dispute and that I thought it would take a little time to learn what it was about and what should be done. Koo departed asking me to inform him of any views that Washington might have in regard to this matter.

In a separate telegram I am communicating substance of conversation member of staff had with Counselor of Japanese Legation at noon today regarding Japanese version of last night’s events at Mukden.

Johnson
  1. Foreign Relations, Japan, 1931–1941, vol. i, p. 1.
  2. V. K. Wellington Koo, formerly Minister for Foreign Affairs and Premier of Peking Government.
  3. Treaties, Conventions, etc., Between the United States and Other Powers, 1910–1923 (Washington, Government Printing Office, 1923), vol. iii, p. 3336.
  4. Foreign Relations, 1928, vol. i, p. 153.
  5. Ibid., 1922, vol. i, p. 276.