793.94/2272: Telegram

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

804. Following from Consul General at Mukden:

“October 21, 11 a.m. The Bureau of Finance, Liaoning Province, was reopened on October 19 under provisional regulations drawn up by the peace preservation committee and sanctioned by the Japanese military authorities. Regulations which were published yesterday provided that scope of the Bureau’s authority is the same as before, that Japanese advisers shall be engaged and their views respected, that a committee comprising Japanese representatives and the Japanese advisers, in addition to representatives of specified Chinese offices and organizations, shall revise the taxation system and that notice of the Chief of the Bureau must first be approved by the Japanese military authorities before issuance.

The reorganization of the Bureau of Civil Administration and Industry along similar lines, no doubt is under way.

On morning of October 20 the Mukden municipal administration was transferred to Chinese by Japanese mayor. Instead of Japanese officers, municipal offices will have four Japanese advisers.”

For the Minister:
Engert