Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1935, The Far East, Volume III

893.01 Outer Mongolia/12: Telegram

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

Peiping, July 10, 1935—4 p.m.
[Received July 10—10:10 a.m.³⁵]

348. Legation’s telegram No. 324, June 29, noon. According to information received from the Soviet Embassy here the two persons, a Japanese topographer, Inukai, and a White Russian, Khabibula, detained on June 23 by the Mongol authorities were both in the service of the Japanese Army and the two men signed a statement while in detention to the effect that they were actually in Outer Mongolian territory when arrested.

The “Manchukuo” representative at the Manchuli conference presented on June 27 certain demands to the Outer Mongolian representative, Sambu, as follows:

(1) the arrested persons shall be immediately released,

(2) the Government of Outer Mongolia shall apologize to “Manchukuo” for the incident,

(3) those responsible for the occurrence shall be punished.

The two arrested persons were released on June 27.

The same “Manchukuo” representative handed Sambu a communication on July 4 incorporating the following demands:

(1) that Outer Mongolia shall assume all responsibility for the occurrence,

(2) those responsible for the incident “must be brought to account,”

(3) “Manchukuo” shall have the right to send representatives to reside permanently at certain points in Outer Mongolia,

(4) those representatives shall be given the right to maintain communications with “Manchukuo” and to enjoy freedom of movement in Outer Mongolia.

Should these requests not be granted, the communication stated, “Manchukuo” will demand withdrawal “toward” Tamsykune (in the region south of Buirnor) of Mongol forces located east of that point.

Saldii, the chief Japanese officer of the military mission at Manchuli, called upon Sambu on July 4 and confirmed and amplified the “Manchukuo” communication of the same date. He presented demands of the Kwantung Army that the Army be granted the right to despatch representatives into Outer Mongolia and to construct telegraph lines to facilitate communication between those representatives and their headquarters.

Sambu has already made on behalf of the Government of Outer Mongolia the following reply:

(1) although the arrested persons were detained in Mongol territory they were actually released prior to receipt of any demands, this evidencing the good will of the Mongol authorities,

(2) the greater part of the belongings of the arrested persons was returned to them at the time of their release and orders have been issued for the return of the remainder of their property,

(3) to prevent a repetition of such occurrences and to provide means for the settlement of any problems which may arise between the two countries it is suggested that there be established a Mongol-”Manchukuo” commission,

(4) that commission would in the present case establish the locus of the incident and the authorities of Outer Mongolia would punish guilty persons and render appropriate apologies should it be discovered that affair occurred in “Manchukuo” territory.

The Counsellor of the Soviet Embassy gave it as his opinion that the Kwantung Army was not at this time prepared to force matters to an open break and armed conflict but he considered that the incident was a result of general Japanese pressure forward “on all fronts in Asia” and that it could probably be considered a forerunner of others to come. Particularly he said the Kwantung Army feels the necessity for reasons of military strategy, of straightening out salient of the projection eastward from Buirnor of the Outer Mongolian boundary.

Repeated by mail Tokyo, Nanking and Harbin.

Johnson

35. Telegram in two sections.