793.94/7435: Telegram
The Counselor of Embassy in China (Lockhart) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 26—12:25 p.m.]
177. Referring to the Embassy’s No. 176, November 25, 4 p.m. It is reliably reported that attempts in Tientsin to create a movement toward autonomy have failed. Some opposition to the attempts was shown by Chinese and no desire for autonomy on the part of the Chinese people was evident. The active participants were apparently low class Chinese who were paid by self-interested persons. Presumably some Chinese ex-officials and unemployed militarists had hoped to profit from the situation. Tientsin is understood to be quiet today.
[Page 445]- 2.
- Sung, Hsiao, and Chin arrived in Peiping from Tientsin yesterday. Doihara is still here. The city is quiet. Unsubstantial rumors have revived to the effect that Sung will declare autonomy of Chahar and Hopei which would then absorb the autonomous regime of-the demilitarized zone. There are no new known developments with regard to the activities of Yin Ju-keng.
- 3.
- A Chinese official well known to the Embassy and regarded as reliable returned today from a 4–day visit to Tientsin. He states that there were no responsible Japanese behind the recent disturbances in Tientsin although irresponsible Japanese may have been connected with them; that Sung will not declare autonomy but that the National Government will form some sort of a commission for North China; that Sung was ordered last night by Nanking to send some troops to Tungchow to watch the situation there, the troops having gone this morning; that in his opinion Yin Ju-keng’s purpose is to make some money and then retire; that Yin’s control of the railways will be purely nominal, an arrangement having already been reached with the managing director of the Peiping–Mukden line whereby an office will be established at Tangshan as a face-saving device for Yin and that the Japanese are not supporting Yin as yet.
Repeated to Nanking and Tokyo.