793.94/1817: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 21—11:45 a.m.]
617. Assistant Military Attaché of this Legation called on Japanese Military Attaché this afternoon and obtained from him following information:
“Japanese subjects in Harbin and Kirin are in a dangerous position. In Kirin they have all been collected in the Japanese Consulate and have sent an appeal to the military authorities in Mukden for protection. Chang Tso-hsiang, Governor of Kirin, is apparently away and his second in command says that he is unable to protect Japanese subjects. In Harbin the situation is also grave, accordingly General Honjo has ordered the Second Japanese Division to proceed to Kirin and Harbin from the neighborhood of Mukden. This movement as I understand it has not begun as yet. Japanese Military Attaché said that Chinese troops were gathering for an attack on Szepingkai, the Fushun coal mines, and implied that they were also about to attack Japanese in Kirin.
When asked as to what Soviet Russia would say to the occupation of Harbin he replied that he did not think they would actually fight or move any troops but that Japanese would be exposed to all kinds of subversive tactics.
He further stated that a mixed brigade was being held on the Yalu River under readiness for duty in Manchuria and that he considered that reenforcements of the Manchurian garrison were absolutely [Page 24] necessary although he claims that he does not know that these reenf orcements will take place.
Japanese Military Attaché denies that Kowpangtze and Hulutao have been occupied.”
Repeated to Tokyo.