761.9415 Amur River/4: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 1—8:40 a.m.]
195. 1. A Reuter report from Changchun (Hsinking) published here today reports that the Kwantung army issued yesterday a statement that a Soviet gunboat has been sunk with heavy loss of life by Japanese and Manchukuo forces near Sennufu, an island in the Amur River. The report goes on to say that Sennufu, which is claimed by Manchukuo, was occupied by Soviet troops last week; that Japan protested against this action on June 28; that the gunboat in question was one of three which the Kwantung army alleges opened fire June 30 on [Page 922] Japanese and Manchukuo units guarding the Manchukuo frontier; that the Kwantung army claims it was forced to reply, thereby sinking one vessel, inflicting heavy losses on another, and forcing a third to retire; and that the Manchukuo government has lodged a protest with the Soviet authorities in regard to the incident.
2. An officer of the local Soviet Embassy informed an American correspondent this morning that the vessel in question was a cutter and was not sunk but only damaged and that he does not feel the situation serious because the Soviets in turn captured a Japanese cutter. This official’s information was evidently based on a Tass report.
By mail to Tokyo.