Office of the Historian

793.94/4929: Telegram

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

Peiping, March 30, 1932—7 p.m.
[Received March 30—9:02 a.m.]

392, Following from American Consul General at Harbin:

“Number 41, March 30, 11 a.m.

1.
Japanese military mission states that bombing planes left Changchun yesterday to bomb old troops in possession of Nungan just north of Changchun, that new Kirin and Japanese troops had reached Fangcheng on the Sungari River, that Japanese troops from Tunghua had reached Ninguta and that those on eastern line of Chinese Eastern Railway would be shifted to the region southwest of Harbin to cope with the situation there which is threatening to Changchun.
2.
Conditions in region along the eastern lines still bad. Private advices from Hailar and Manchouli indicate that situation in and near those places is quiet.
3.
Reports received concerning Siberia indicate that the Soviet Army is still continuing to strengthen its position in Priamur Province.
4.
Local customhouse and post office functioning normally without serious interference from the new authorities.
5.
Despite embargo on wheat declared by local authorities Soviet Exporthleb succeeded in shipping to Vladivostok 4,000 tons of wheat during the past 10 days. Agents of Exporthleb have arranged at Dairen with Mitsui’s to ship to Vladivostok a large quantity of wheat to be delivered last part of April.
6.
Soviet administration of the Chinese Eastern Railway has sent so many freight cars into Siberia that shippers cannot secure tenth of their requirements and have been forced to curtail their purchases of beans. This is having a serious effect on the revenue of the railway which is now practically “frozen”. This action and the great harm to farmers caused by unpaid Chinese soldiers and brigands made the economic outlook of North Manchuria for 1932 pessimistic.”

For the Minister:
Perkins