893.01 Manchuria/361: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 29—8:45 a.m.]
203. Referring to my despatch No. 22, June 18, 1932,16 regarding the unification of Japanese authority in Manchuria. It is reported that the Cabinet decided on the 26th to combine in one person the offices of Commander of the Kwantung garrison, Governor General of the Kwantung leased territory and Special Plenipotentiary in Manchuria. As commander of the garrison under the War Office he will control all Army operations in Manchuria; as Governor General under the Department of Overseas Affairs he will control all activities of the civil officials; and as Special Plenipotentiary under the Foreign Office he will control all diplomatic and consular activities. For the time being the activities of the South Manchuria Railway will not be controlled by the new office except insofar as they normally fall under the jurisdiction of the Governor General. Although not so stated, it is understood that the post will be filled by an Army general, who will have the ranks of General, Governor General and Ambassador, thus outranking all other officers in all Japanese services in Manchuria. It is reported that the headquarters of the new administration will be at Changchun and that General Nobuyoshi Muto will be appointed to the new post. The foregoing with detailed regulations will be probably promulgated by Imperial Ordinance within a few days and the system will become operative on August 5th or 6th.
The Foreign Office spokesman this morning states to the press that the appointment of a special plenipotentiary in Manchuria will not necessarily imply recognition of “Manchukuo”, as the appointment is to be made under the Ordinance of 1917, which allows the appointment of special envoys with the rank of Ambassador who need not be accredited to a country but are appointed for special work. It was under this authority that Viscount Ishii was sent to the United States in 1917.
[Page 190]I am informed that the Chinese Minister called the Foreign Office yesterday to protest against the appointment of a plenipotentiary to “Manchukuo” and was given the answer indicated in the foregoing paragraph. Repeated to Peiping.
- Not printed.↩