793.94/1805: Telegram
The Minister in China ( Johnson ) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 19—7 a.m.]
603. Legation’s 602, September 19, 2 p.m. Member of my staff called on Counselor of Japanese Legation in the absence of the Japanese Minister who is in Shanghai. He was informed that the Mukden [Page 13] incident appears to have been caused by an attempt on the part of some three or four hundred Chinese soldiers to blow up the line of the South Manchuria Railway immediately to the north of Mukden. A Japanese force was sent to investigate and prevent further damage to the line but when they arrived they were opposed by the Chinese soldiers and a brief engagement ensued. The Japanese thereupon decided as a precautionary measure to occupy certain parts of the city. In reply to a question he stated there may be no connection between the events of last night and the representations the Japanese Government had made regarding other incidents and that, on the contrary, they had been encouraged by the conciliatory attitude the Chinese had recently shown in connection with the Nakamura [case?]. When asked whether it was true that Japanese troops had occupied Kowpangtze he replied he did not know but doubted it very much.