793.94/7560: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
Peiping, December 23, 1935—4
p.m.
[Received December 23—10:20 a.m.]
[Received December 23—10:20 a.m.]
243. Embassy’s 236, December 20, 4 p.m.
- 1.
- It has been generally accepted here now that the Japanese military concerned have informed the local Chinese authorities that they will give the new Council a trial of 3 months. The additional Japanese troops mentioned in Embassy’s No. 179, November 27, 10 a.m., have left together with about 180 from Tientsin. There still remain six Japanese soldiers at Fengtai checking movements of freight cars. The Japanese appear to have transferred from Peiping Counsellor of Embassy Wakasugi leaving the Embassy here in charge of First Secretary Muto who is overshadowed by the Japanese Assistant Military Attaché and Japan’s “unofficial” military representative General Doihara who is again in Peiping. A situation has therefore been created in which all Sino-Japanese matters here will probably be handled between Chinese military and Japanese officials and “unofficial” military principally the latter who will continue to exercise pressure of an uncertain and secret kind upon the local authorities. Chinese leaders here are understood to be wholly pessimistic of the future.
- 2.
- Although confirmation is lacking all foreign and Chinese observers are of the opinion that official and unofficial Japanese military are now pressing for a solution of conditions in that part of Chahar which is north of Kalgan and extends into Inner Mongolia, which will result in separating that area from Chinese control.
By mail to Tokyo.
Johnson