861.77 Chinese Eastern/1164: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 30—2:06 a.m.]
392. Legation’s 384, April 28, 10 a.m. Following from American Consul General at Harbin,
“April 29, 11 a.m. Soviet Vice President Kusnetsoff of the Chinese Eastern Railway handed a note to President Li Shao-ken yesterday stating: ‘That the railway belongs to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics is an incontestable fact’ and renewing protest of the Manchukuo actions in alleged contravention of agreements, which gave [Page 297] certain privileges but no rights of ownership to the Chinese Government. Manchukuo faction is against the practice of ‘aggressive intentions’. Mori, Japanese representative of Manchukuo Ministry of Communications is quoted as stating that if Soviets reject demands ‘Manchukuo will be compelled to use force’. Japanese military mission troops reaching Harbin are returning from Jehol.”