893.01 Manchuria/219: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 21—8 a.m.]
555. Following from American Consul General at Harbin:
“May 20, noon. 1. Japanese Consulate General states that Japanese [Page 29] military entered Sansing on May 16; that Generals Li and Ting fled to Fuchin; and that two Japanese travellers were taken from yesterday morning’s train at Metaitze, second station west of Harbin, by 90 soldiers presumably under Ma’s command.
2. Railway administration stated that some one on yesterday’s 3 o’clock p.m. train which connects with Trans-Siberian express fired a shot at the same body of troops which have been searching trains at Metaitze and that the latter fired 100 shots along the train breaking all windows and wounding a Russian brakeman in the hand. Train was searched and permitted to proceed.
3. Trains can proceed from Harbin to Hengtaohotze and from Motaoshih to Suifenho. Russian railway employees on Eastern line are suffering from lack of food.
4. It is feared that there will soon be a break at Anta on Western line along which League Commission which plans to leave on the 21st must proceed en route to Tsitsihar.
5. It is believed advisable for League Commission to leave a representative at Harbin after it departs in order that it might keep in touch with people and events here. It is expected that the Japanese military will resort to drastic measures after Commission’s departure.”