793.94/2170: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
780. Following just received from Hanson [and] Salisbury at Taonan, dated October 12, 4 p.m., evidently delayed transmission.
- “1. Arrived at Taonanfu 8 a.m. today.
- 2. According to Commander Chang Hai-peng, the 23 Japanese residents of Taonanfu departed on September 20; a Japanese airplane dropped 2 harmless bombs on the 24th; 600 Japanese troops arrived on the morning of 25th and returned next day. The 7,000 Chinese troops near Taonan had withdrawn on the 24th. The Japanese troops behaved extremely well while here. The Commander of the Japanese troops, Lieutenant Colonel Ueda, informed General Chang that the Japanese soldiers had come to protect the Japanese residents, to search for the murderers [of] Captain Nakamura and to protect the Ssu-pingkai-Taonanfu Railway, in which the Japanese were financially interested.
- 3. A Japanese employee South Manchuria Railway here informed us that the Chinese invited the Japanese troops to come to protect the city from the troops which had fled and who might become brigands. This the Chinese officials deny. Considering the dislike of the Chinese here for the Japanese, it appears to us that the Chinese did not invite the Japanese troops to come. This Japanese also informed us that five Japanese had returned before the Japanese troops came. We could not ascertain why they were withdrawn.
- 4. General Chang stated that on October 15th he would assume office as North Liao Ninghai Mongolian Border Administrator to which he has been appointed by Chang Hsueh-liang, but which he claims the Chinese and Mongols of this section have elected him. He denied that, although he was in control of independent territory, he had made himself independent at the request of the Japanese.”
Repeated to Tokyo.
For the Minister:
Engert
- Telegram in two sections.↩