793.94/1855: Telegram
The Consul at Geneva (Gilbert) to the Secretary of State
[Received 10:13 p.m.]
133. Consulate’s 131, September 23, 2 p.m. At the very last moment the decision was taken to hold in private the Council meeting this evening.
The following is the text of a letter addressed this afternoon by the Japanese representative on the Council to the Secretary General in [Page 53] explanation and defense of the Japanese position. He requested that this letter be communicated to the President and members of the Council and drew attention to the fact that the entire information covering the period from September 18 to 21 was derived from official sources.
“On the night of September 18th, about 10:30 p.m., a Chinese detachment of some 350 men blew up part of the main line of the South Manchuria Railway north of Mukden at a point southwest of the Chinese barracks at Peitaying. This detachment led by its officers was proceeding in the direction of Lungkouchen, between Peitaying and Mukden, when it was discovered by a railway guard patrol which endeavored to stop it but, failing, was obliged to open fire. A battle ensued in which a company of the Japanese garrison of Mukden took part.
In view of the gravity of the possible consequences of such an incident in present circumstances and the disproportion between the Chinese and Japanese forces, the Japanese headquarters at Mukden promptly took such steps as it considered indispensable. At 2:30 a.m. it had the Chinese barracks occupied and the troops who were stationed [there] disarmed; subsequently the open town, the official buildings and the arsenal were occupied.
Immediately upon receiving notice of the incident the troops stationed at Tiehling, Kaiyuan, Ssupingkai and Liaoyang concentrated at Mukden; and the Kwantung staff proceeded in haste to that town at noon on September 19th.
On receiving news of the clash the guards stationed along the South Manchuria Railway took the precautions to protect the track and the safety of Japanese nationals and to deal with any possible attack by the large Chinese forces in Mukden.
At Changchun a Japanese was sent on September 19 to the Chinese troops stationed in the neighborhood of the town at Kwangchengtze and Nanling, to arrange for their disarmament, but the Chinese offered strong resistance to the Japanese troops who had 60 killed and 96 wounded. The garrison of Changchun however was disarmed without incident about noon on the same day.
On the 20th similar measures were taken at Antung, Fenghuang-cheng and Yingkow; various strategic points in the neighborhood of the railway zone were occupied. The customs offices at Antung, Yingkow, etc., were carefully respected.
In the places mentioned, order is being maintained in cooperation with the Chinese, and at Mukden the Chinese municipal police are continuing to discharge their duties under the direction of the Japanese authorities.
In places outside the railway zone the Japanese consuls have applied to the local authorities to provide for the protection of our nationals. As, however, Japanese subjects have suffered serious maltreatment at Kirin, the Japanese detachment has proceeded to that town but has [orders] to return to its garrison in a day or two as soon as calm has been restored.
We have been able so far to ensure the complete safety of foreigners resident in the area under Japanese control. In view, however, of the disquieting situation caused by the presence of undisciplined bands and the attitude of the population in looser [certain] areas, the small [Page 54] forces at our disposal have not been thought sufficient to provide effective protection for the railway lines and for Japanese and foreign residents and the Thirty Ninth Army Corps (4,000 men) was sent to Manchuria from Korea on September 21st.[”]
[Paraphrase.] Confidential information given me is that League members who are not represented on the Council plan to pass a resolution, probably when the Assembly holds its next plenary session, to indorse the Council’s action. This plan is intended to be a gesture of support for the Council and of emphasis of the world-wide concern which is felt. [End paraphrase.]