793.94/7034: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 13—11 a.m.]
268. Japanese press reports that the Japanese Military are taking a serious view of an “insult” to Japan which took place at Kalgan on June 5 (Chinese version, June 4) and which Japanese regard as more serious than another “Yu Hsueh-chung North China affair”. According to the Japanese press four Japanese military arriving at Kalgan were stopped by the Chinese military and although they had proper documents were illegally detained for 18 hours during which time they received insulting treatment. The Chinese press states that the Japanese had no proper documents. According to a press [Page 235] correspondent the Japanese military at Tientsin are awaiting the arrival of a Japanese officer from Kalgan to learn the details of the incident and to decide what action to take in regard thereto. Although it is impossible to foretell what use the Japanese military may make of this incident to forward their aims with respect to Chahar it is possible that they may use it to effect the elimination of Sung Che-yuan whom they dislike or that they may use it in furthering their efforts to separate Inner Mongolia from China (see my telegram 230, May 31, 4 p.m., paragraph 3).