Office of the Historian

893.01 Manchuria/58: Telegram

The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State

Peiping, March 18, 1932—4 p.m.
[Received March 18—4:25 a.m.7]

354. Following from American Consul General, Harbin:

“March 17, 3 p.m.

1.
I have received a formal letter March 15th, which is written in English, which is headed ‘Department of Foreign Affairs, the State of Manchuria’, and which is signed by ‘Hsieh Chieh-shih, Minister for Foreign Affairs’, informing me that he had telegraphed under date of March 12th and had written under date of March 15th to the Secretary of State of my Government in regard to the establishment of the State of Manchuria, and stating that the State of Manchuria had been created, that its Government had been established and that he (Hsieh) had been charged with the conduct of Foreign Affairs of the new state.
2.
I shall file but not acknowledge the receipt of this letter.
3.
The local Soviet Consul General informed me last evening that he had not received any communication from his Government in regard to its attitude toward the question of the recognition of the new state but it was apparent to me that he was not pleased with the turn of events.
4.
Local authorities have prohibited the export of wheat, flour and kaoliang ostensibly on the ground that these articles are needed by the local inhabitants but really to stop the Soviet Exportkhleb from shipping more wheat and flour to Vladivostok. The prohibition comes too late as the Exportkhleb having shipped recently 16, 000 tons, has ceased its operations. There might be a demand for American flour at Vladivostok.
5.
Rolling stock and other Chinese Eastern Railway movable property are still being sent, but as the Soviet side claims that the ownership of all the railway’s property is invested in Soviet Russia, it is difficult for the Manchurian officials or the Japanese military to find a pretext to stop this movement by force without incurring the further displeasure of Soviet Russia. The local Japanese-inspired press warns the Soviet Government not to countenance this movement which it states may net the deprecators a few score millions but which may bring harm reckoned in billions to Russia and Japan.
6.
Five local Chinese judges and two prosecuting attorneys have resigned because they did not wish to function under the new government.”

For the Minister:
Perkins
  1. Telegram in two sections.↩