793.94/2714: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
950. Following from Harbin:
“November 16, 6 p.m. 1. Referring to ultimatum mentioned in my telegram November 16, noon, Secretary Chao informed me this afternoon that, acting under instructions of Ma, he informed local military representative of Honjo that no verbal reply could be given today at noon because it would be necessary to hold a meeting of the Heilungkiang military leaders before a decision could be made in regard to the withdrawal of the Chinese troops from Tsitsihar and that he (Chao) had already sent to Alfred Sze, in the name of Ma, a telegram stating that the written reply due tomorrow at noon would state that the Tsitsihar troops had been sent to the Nonni front to protect Tsitsihar against Chang Hai-Peng and other rebels, that the right to withdraw or not to withdraw these troops lay within the province of the Heilungkiang authorities who would act in self-defense, that these authorities had the right to station their troops anywhere within Heilungkiang Province and that as the Taoang Railway was in Heilungkiang Province the Provincial authorities have the right to search trains or stop them from running.
Chao also added that yesterday Japanese airplanes threw bombs on Chinese troops at Sanchienfang and flew over Tsitsihar city but did not drop bombs there.
2. The women missionaries mentioned in my telegram November 12, 11 a.m.,35 withdrew from Tsitsihar at my request and arrived at Harbin this morning. Mr. Vos is now at Tsitsihar Station of Chinese Eastern Railway where I believe he is safe for the time being.
[Page 464]3. Ohashi denies that there was any serious fighting at the front on my arrival 13th as allegedly reported by American correspondents but only skirmishes between outposts.”
Repeated to Nanking.