793.94/2593: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
904. Following two telegrams from American Consul, Harbin:
“November 9, 10 a.m.
1. Yesterday passed quietly near Tsitsihar and the Japanese consider that their position along the former Chinese front defense line through Tashing and Ma’s troops still held and second defense line through Sanchienfang.
2. On November 7th Secretary Chao caused to be sent to each of the consuls here except the Japanese a request which he inspired, in regard to the issuance of which he probably only consulted General Ma by telephone and which purported to come from the Chinese commercial, agricultural and labor societies of Tsitsihar requesting the consuls to attempt to stop hostilities. The British Consul has informed me that he would refer this matter to his Legation. I look upon it as a measure adopted by Chao, who is very willing, to help General Ma keep his job. As far as I can perceive little can be done by the consular body of which the Japanese Consul General is the Senior Consul, but I request the instructions of the Legation in the premises.
3. Late last evening Secretary Chao informed me that at 1 p.m. yesterday General Ma told him by telephone that Colonel Hayashi (in Chinese Liu) at Tsitsihar had sent to Ma a copy of a telegram dated November 8th received from Commander Honjo and which read as follows:
‘This is to notify Chairman Ma that the only way to keep the Japanese troops from entering Tsitsihar is for him to declare his sincerity immediately. A reply to this telegram is urgently required and must be sent not later than 12 midnight of the 8th.’
According to direction to Chao, Ma sent diplomatist Yu to Colonel Hayashi to ask what was meant by the word sincerity in that telegram. Yu was informed by Hayashi ‘that to prevent hostilities and to maintain local peace and order required that Chairman Ma resign his position and peacefully hand over charge of the Tsitsihar Government to Chang Hai-peng and that there was no other way to attain peace.’
[Page 420]4. November 7th was celebrated on a grand scale by the local Soviet institutions, officials and citizens. Speeches against imperialism were made. At the highly decorated Soviet Consulate General and Chinese Eastern Railway Club were displayed mottos such as ‘We do not wish one inch of foreign soil nor shall we part with one inch of our soil.’ ‘The League of Nations provokes war.’
5. Secretary Chao has just informed me that General Ma replied last night to Honjo’s alleged ultimatum of the 8th by stating ‘that Chang Hai-peng would not come to Tsitsihar because he had not been ordered by the Chinese Central Government to come’.
6. Captain Tenney arrived at Harbin yesterday morning.”
Message No. 2.
“November 9, 1 p.m.
- 1.
- Referring to my telegram of November 4, 10 a.m., paragraph No. 3, Hallett Abend informed me that Ohashi, the local Japanese Consul General, stated to him this morning that he, Ohashi, had knowledge that such an official had been sent to General Ma by the Japanese military.
- 2.
- The local Commissioner of Foreign Affairs has informed me that more Japanese soldiers have crossed the Nonni and that further expedition was expected today. I have not yet been able to confirm this statement.”
Minister informed.
- Telegram in three sections.↩