893.7793 Manchuria/14
The Minister in China ( Johnson ) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 6.]
Sir: I have the honor to supplement my telegram No. 283 of June 30, 1 p.m., reporting that Chinese and Japanese authorities announced on June 28 that an agreement had been reached for the institution on July 1 of through passenger traffic on the Peiping-Mukden Railway.
Summary:
Marking the successful end of more than one year of effort of certain Chinese officials to overcome on the part of influential Chinese factions opposition to agreement, the resumption of through traffic was marred only by the explosion of a bomb on the first train out of Peiping. It is supposed that in the not distant future announcements will be made of agreements with regard to other questions relating to North China and “Manchukuo”. A “diplomatic” success for Japan and an augury of further peaceful penetration into China (reinforced by the threat of military action), it is also a success on the part of [Page 216] General Chiang Kai-shek and those other officials who believe in the necessity of a policy of conciliation of Japan.
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Significance of the agreement:
Publishing and putting into effect the agreement successfully, without important Chinese objection, indicate that those officials in favor of a policy of conciliation of Japan have silenced officials opposed to it. This lessens the threat, for the time being at least, of internal warfare and facilitates Japanese peaceful penetration into China. It is a “diplomatic” victory for Japan and seems to have been urgently desired not so much for economic reasons as for the purpose of convincing Western powers that there is taking place a gradual rapprochement between China and “Manchukuo” and Japan. Supposedly, within the near future, other agreements, with regard to such questions as the establishment of customs houses along the Great Wall, through freight train service, and postal facilities will be announced. It is not at all unlikely that agreements with regard to these and other questions relating to North China and “Manchukuo” have already been reached by the principal officials concerned and are awaiting a propitious moment for publication.
Respectfully yours,