793.94/7824: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 3—7:20 a.m.]
168. 1. Paragraph 4 of the Embassy’s 135, March 16, 4 p.m., and 89, February 25, 5 p.m. Major General Takayoshi Matsumuro arrived March 28 from Tientsin to succeed Doihara as chief Japanese negotiator in North China and since then has been conversing at Tientsin with Sung Che Yuan and other Chinese leaders. The Embassy has been informed that Matsumuro is to establish a special military mission at Peiping which will be directly responsible to the Tokyo General Staff and not to the North China Garrison. Japanese allegations that Sino-Japanese affairs in North China are not to be directed by the Kwantung army lose significance because Matsumuro was formerly of the Kwantung army, is allegedly strongly reactionary and is understood to have obtained his present assignment as the result of representations made at Tokyo by the Kwantung army. [Page 101] Doihara has been succeeded as chief of the special military mission at Mukden by Major General Toshiji Miura, formerly of the China Section of the War Ministry. Doihara, now a lieutenant general, has returned to Tokyo where he will be in command of that part of the first division which does not go to Manchuria. It is now said that a new commander may not be appointed to the North China Garrison but that Tada may be promoted to lieutenant general and continue as commander. The newly appointed Japanese Military Attaché relieving Isogai, who has been appointed director of the Military Affairs Bureau at Tokyo, is Seiichi Kita, recently promoted to the rank of major general. Kita is described as being more moderate than Matsumuro. Matsumuro and Sung Che Yuan are expected to arrive at Peiping on April 6.
2. According to Chinese sources, the current conversations at Tientsin concern questions arising from the existence of Yin Ju Keng’s regime, the situation in Chahar, the situation in Shansi, and the alleged existence of a secret Sino-Russian treaty. It is doubtful that reports to the effect that the Japanese have requested permission to send Japanese troops to West Hopei near the Shansi border are true. However, the report that they have urged Sung to despatch some of his troops to Shansi may be true as it would be in accord with the Japanese method of extending Sung’s influence as a cloak for extension of Japanese influence. Sung is alleged to have refused on the ground that his troops are all needed in Hopei. It is anticipated that the Japanese will continue to insist on an enlargement of the autonomous character of Sung’s regime.
3. A sixth Japanese adviser has arrived at Peiping. (Reference paragraph 3 of Embassy’s 135, March 16, 4 p.m.) He is a former official of the Manchukuo regime and will be adviser to the Economic Committee of the Hopei-Chahar Political Council.
By mail to Tokyo.