793.94/7657: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 13—2:10 p.m.]
15. 1. Doihara27 arrived yesterday at Tientsin. Vice Chief of Staff of Kwantung army Itagaki arrived Tientsin January 9. Manchukuo Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Ohashi arrived in Peiping January 4, subsequently visiting Taiyuanfu and Tsinanfu, and has allegedly returned to Manchuria. According to some reports, Itagaki has visited Tsinanfu and Tsingtau, meeting Military Attaché Isogai at the latter place.
2. These movements of important Japanese have aroused apprehension that fresh developments in the extension of Japanese control are imminent.
3. The following reasonable explanation has been advanced by a junior Japanese diplomatic official. Ohashi’s trip is without much significance as he came for the purpose of “explaining” Manchukuo to Chinese leaders and without permission of the Kwantung army. Itagaki came to solve the internal Japanese military problems and will return soon to Manchuria. He confirms reports of jealousy of the Japanese North China garrison of the Kwantung army’s direction of affairs in North China. However, Doihara has come to stay until the powers of the Hopei-Chahar Political Council are satisfactorily enlarged, that is, until the desired degree of autonomy has been attained in finance and in foreign affairs, which include closer relations with Manchukuo and agreement for action against Communism, and in economy.
4. Reports continue to be received to the effect that Li Shou Hsin and tractable Mongols are beginning or will shortly begin to separate Inner Mongolia in Suiyuan from Chinese authority as they have apparently done successfully in Chahar.
To Tokyo by mail.
- Maj. Gen. Kenji Doihara, head of the Japanese military mission at Mukden.↩