793.94/7131: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received 7:15 p.m.]
325. I refer to United Press report from Tokyo claiming that trouble south of Peiping yesterday and the preceding night (my 322, June 28 noon7) was due to mutiny of Wan Fu-lin’s troops and that there was rioting within Peiping. Official sources all claim that the trouble was instigated by plain-clothes men, alleged to have come from Tientsin to Fengtai during the last few days. Peiping remained quiet throughout the entire time.
Indications are that the plain-clothes men intended to organize an anti-Chiang Kai-shek government and anticipated assistance from within Peiping. However, officials here having received intimations some 3 days prior to the outbreak of trouble, state that precautions were taken to prevent disturbances within city. A plain-clothes man arrested yesterday afternoon admitted according to Chinese authorities that there were 300 plain-clothes men within Peiping. It would seem that the instigators had had connection with certain Japanese and had been misled into believing that they would receive support. Support failing to materialize the movement proved to be abortive. As a result of the confession of the men arrested yesterday afternoon local authorities have decided to place Peiping under martial law every night from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. for an indefinite period during which time persons on the streets must have passes.
I am officially informed that the persons who caused the trouble at Fengtai and on the armored train were completely suppressed last evening and also that some 20 to 30 plain-clothes men who appeared near Tungchow (15 miles east of Peiping) were suppressed yesterday.
[Page 286]In view of the fact that the instigators failed this time and that the local authorities have taken precautions, nervousness in Peiping has fell [sic] off. The 41st Division of Sung Che-Yuan’s army arrived last night at Peiping from Chahar and is to be stationed in and near Peiping. It is one of Sung’s best divisions and officials say that it has come because of the lack of troops in the Peiping area and because of some suspicion of the loyalty and intentions of Wan Fu Lin’s troops and even of Wan himself.
Repeated to Tokyo and Nanking.
- Not printed.↩