793.94/3165: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 11—9:20 a.m.]
1067. My 1064, December 10, 11 a.m.79 The Consul General at Mukden reports on December 10, 2 p.m., as follows:
[Page 676]He refers to his second paragraph of his telegram dated December 9, 5 p.m., and says that, while the statement evidently could not have been officially made by the Kwantung headquarters, he is led to believe by conversations with the Japanese Consul that the statement does represent not only the wishes but also the considered plans of some military authorities.
He reports the movement for an independent Manchuria-Mongolia republic to be taking more definite form each day. Interested Chinese, Mongols, and Japanese meet frequently; self-governing bodies are being established in most of the cities, the most recent one in Yingkow on December 7; and the trend is evidenced by the general attitude of the press and officials in Mukden. He expresses the opinion that this movement has gone so far beyond the merely speculative stage that its accomplishment could be prevented only by an expression of foreign opposition or by an early convening of a conference between China and Japan. The movement, however, is not spontaneous, nor are representative Chinese and Japanese promoting it. Without Japanese military backing, it would collapse. Furthermore, the movement is not supported by a united, strong Japanese feeling insisting upon its fulfillment in spite of international disapproval. He is advised that Japanese opinion on the question either is unformed or divided. The foregoing views were results of conversations with informed Mukden Japanese and foreigners.
The above repeated to Nanking.
- Not printed.↩