Office of the Historian

893.01 Manchuria/172: Telegram

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

Peiping, April 29, 1932—noon.
[Received April 29—3:45 a.m.]

481. Following from American Consul General at Harbin:

“April 28, 5 p.m.

1.
Although military forces have reached Hailin and main body of old Kirin troops have fallen back eastward, conditions along the eastern line of railway from Imienpo east are still deplorable. It is reported in the press that Japanese military are themselves operating some trains.
2.
On April 28th there arrived at Harbin Colonel Komatsubara, new chief of local Japanese military mission, who speaks Russian and who is the successor to Doihara, who will leave for Japan on May 1st.
3.
Pensionless discharged railway employees, some of whom are in desperate need and some of whom are no doubt urged on by Japanese agents to embarrass the railway management, demonstrated in front of the American, British, French and Japanese Consulates and demanded from the directors of the railway the money due them. Police adviser Yagi, a Japanese, who is in direct charge of the local police, as he has reduced the Chinese chief of police to a nonentity, is attempting to negotiate between the parties. It is feared that the Soviet side will refuse to grant immediate relief to the pensioners and that serious trouble will result.
4.
Chinese officials in the employ of new government institutions confirm reports that the Japanese do not desire capable Chinese officials to work with them and that the former are more and more openly showing that they are directing and controlling the activities of the new government and of governmental and semi-governmental enterprises.
5.
Manager of the [Huhai?] Railway, General Kao of the old regime, has been replaced by a pro-Japanese Chinese.”

For the Minister:
Perkins