702.4193 Manchuria/7: Telegram

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

372. Following from American Consul at Mukden:

“August 20, 11 a.m. Yesterday afternoon riding party consisting of Coghill, British Vice Consul, Ford, also British, and Rowsome, American citizen, were assaulted with poles by Japanese members of road construction gang. Ford was beaten, other two escaped injury. Coghill and this Consulate General this morning informed Japanese Consulate and asked that members of party be immediately allowed to identify assailants. The Japanese Consul General promised police investigation but refused identification until advised police report [Page 250] received. While the British Consul General is primarily interested in the case I propose to support their representations strongly as such manifestations of anti-Americanism by Japanese have been occurring with increasing frequency.”

Johnson