Foreign Relations of the United States, Diplomatic Papers, 1936, The Far East, Volume IV

693.94244/180

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

No. 913

Peiping, December 10, 1936.
[Received January 4, 1937.]

Sir: I have the honor to enclose a copy of despatch No. 13 of December 7, 1936, from the Consul at Tsinan⁸⁹ in which he reports the seizure by the Shantung Provincial authorities of a number of trucks in various parts of the Province, operated by armed Japanese and Korean smugglers. The smugglers are reported to have been arrested and turned over to the Japanese Consul General at Tsinan, while the trucks were detained at the Governor’s Yamen. This is described as the first serious attempt on the part of the Governor to stop smuggling in Shantung Province. Consul Allison states that although all the elements are present for a real crisis, it is his opinion that there is no immediate danger of Sino-Japanese trouble.⁹⁰

Respectfully yours,

For the Ambassador:

F. P. Lockhart

Counselor of Embassy

89. Not printed.
90. On December 23 the trucks with contents were turned over to the Japanese Consul General at Tsinan after he had given oral assurance “that no more smuggling by Japanese or Koreans would occur in Shantung.” (693.94244/196)