793.94/6992: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 1—2:50 p.m.]
235. Reference Legation’s 233, June 1, 4 p.m. and previous. Following telegram has been received from American Consul General at Mukden:
“June 1, 3 p.m. Local press today contains interview issued yesterday afternoon by chief of staff Kwantung Army stating that the North China administration and the Nanking Government are responsible for the conditions in the demilitarized zone which have repeatedly disturbed the peace of Jehol Province and that it is clear that the bases whence the volunteers receive their guidance are in the Peiping-Tientsin area. He indicated that the Kwantung Army might be obliged to take measures for its self-defense, and that China would be entirely responsible for the consequences.
I called this afternoon on Major Tajima, acting chief of the Mukden military mission who did not throw much further light on the subject except to say that he understood that the Japanese demands provided for the inclusion of Peiping and Tientsin in the demilitarized zone. He believed that the Chinese would accept these demands and he therefore anticipated no further action by the Kwantung Army.”