893.01 Manchuria/91: Telegram

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

402. Following from American Consul General at Harbin:

“April 2, 11 a.m.

1.
Postal Commissioner informed me that post office is carrying on as usual and would do so until instructions received from Nanking, that negotiations regarding post office were being conducted at Mukden and that all the representative[s] of the new government did here was to audit the accounts of the post office.
2.
Customs Commissioner informed me that the Bank of China is still holding customs revenue subject to orders of new government, that he is expecting a demand that customs be handed over and that his instructions are only to yield in case of force majeure.
3.
New Kirin, supported by Japanese troops still engaged in battles with Ting Chao’s and Lius’ [Li Tu’s] troops, who are offering stubborn resistance near Fangcheng. New Kirin troops apparently useless unless aided by Japanese forces. I believe situation here will become worse as summer advances.
4.
New Kirin and Japanese troops find it difficult to defeat irregular Chinese forces operating at and near Nungan. These latter forces recently captured four motor trucks laden with several hundred thousand rounds of rifle ammunition and several thousand mortar shells intended for new Kirin.”

For the Minister:
Perkins