702.4193 Manchuria/8: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 4—11:45 a.m.]
398. Department’s 275, August 30 [31], 5 p.m.88 Following from American Consul General at Mukden:
“September 3, 1 p.m. Referring to Legation’s telegram September 2, 11 a.m., the Japanese Consulate General reported August 20th that Ford’s assailant had been identified: that, however, he claimed having struck Ford only after the party had refused to turn back from the road which was under construction and closed and after Ford had struck him with a whip.
On August 23rd the British Consulate General and I made strong oral representation to the General pointing out that this story flatly contradicted the testimony of all the foreigners and that Ford carried no whip and requesting a thorough reinvestigation and appropriate punishment of the Japanese assailants. The affair is again under investigation and decision is understood to have been referred to the Kwantung army in whose employ the construction gang was working. There is every reason to believe that the authorities’ report will again be unsatisfactory and that they will refuse to punish the offenders. In this event possible further steps would appear to consist in (1) diplomatic action or (2) the bringing of suit by Ford and possibly Rowsome. The British Consul General is awaiting instructions from his Legation which has detailed information on the case.”
- 2.
- British Legation states that it has informed British Consul General [at] Mukden that it believes that no good purpose would be served by the institution of legal proceedings by the British Vice Consul against his assailant; that the Consul General should endeavor to bring about a satisfactory local settlement of the case failing which he should make full report to the British Ambassador in Tokyo for appropriate action vis-à-vis the Japanese Government. The British Legation adds that such instruction is of course subject to modification by the British Foreign Office to which report of the Legation’s action has been made.
- 3.
- I concur in the views thus expressed by the British Legation and with the Department’s approval propose to instruct Consul Chase89 to concert with his British colleague in efforts to bring about a satisfactory local settlement of the case failing which the matter should be referred to the American Embassy at Tokyo for appropriate representations to the Japanese authorities. The Department’s instructions are requested.
- 4.
- In regard to general subject of attacks on foreigners by Japanese nationals in “Manchukuo” the Department is referred to the final paragraph of Consul Chase’s despatch No. 946, August 2, 1934, to the Legation, copies of which were sent to the Department, and to the Legation’s despatch No. 2901, August 11, to the Department,90 expressing my qualified agreement with Consul Chase’s views in the premises.