793.94/2539: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 9—6:15 a.m.]
893. Legation’s 892, November 9, 10 a.m. Following from Consul. General at Tientsin:
“November 9, 9 a.m. Heavy machine-gun and rifle fire was heard in or near the Japanese Concession last night at 11 o’clock and lasted until 2 a.m. There was a lull in the firing until 7 this morning and kept up until 9. There is much confusion in and near the Japanese Concession and the exact cause of trouble is not yet known but rumors have been current for several days [that] the ex-Shih Yu-san soldiers in the concession, reenforced by Chinese students, have been organizing themselves into plain-clothes squads for a concerted attack on the local Chang Hsueh-liang Government. In the firing this morning the detonation of small field pieces was distinctly heard. Strict martial law is being maintained In Japanese Concession and in Chinese [Page 402] area. Conditions are quiet in French and British Concessions but much uneasiness prevails as to possible repercussions. Mayor Chang76 has requested members of consular body to meet him at 10:30 this morning to discuss developments.”
Repeated to Shanghai and commander in chief.
- Chang Hsueh-ming, brother of Marshal Chang Hsueh-liang.↩