Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1937, The Far East, Volume III

793.94/8533: Telegram

The Counselor of Embassy in China (Lockhart) to the Secretary of State

Peiping, March 11, 1937—4 p.m.
[Received March 11—9:50 a.m.]

88. Reference Embassy’s despatch 1067, February 19.⁴⁰

1. Several reports have reached Peiping during the past few days that the Japanese are withdrawing their military supplies in Chahar to Dolonor in extreme eastern Chahar, indicating that no attack on Suiyuan is intended in the near future. The local correspondent of the Associated Press has just returned from Kalgan and Kueihwa and states that these reports seem to be correct.

2. The alleged withdrawal may be due to (1) orders received by the Japanese military responsible for the unsuccessful attack on Suiyuan of last November for which they were severely criticized, (2) the desertion of all or almost all of the Chinese “irregular[s]” to the Suiyuan side since the November defeat, leaving only Prince Teh’s⁴¹ troops, numbering not more than 3,000, under Japanese direction, to evacuate, (3) effective military preparations in Suiyuan by the Chinese.

3. According to the correspondent, Fu Tso Yi⁴² now controls Suiyuan practically to the Chahar border, and there are in Suiyuan 20,000 of his troops, 20,000 Shansi troops, 20,000 troops of Wang Ching Kuo, Yen Hsi Shan’s⁴³ subordinate in west Suiyuan, and 40,000 National Government troops. According to this informant, extensive strong defense preparations have been made in Suiyuan during the past few months.

4. There is a possibility, perhaps somewhat remote at present, that the Chinese will assume an aggressive attitude as a result of Japanese reduction of strength in Chahar and may attempt to recover Chahar territory from Japanese control.

5. Chinese in Kalgan are reported as saying that the Japanese may voluntarily give back the four western districts of the six which they control in Chahar north of the Great Wall, retaining the eastern two districts which give them control of the Kalgan–Dolonor Road but not of the Kalgan–Urga Road. It seems to the Embassy an improbable development under existing conditions.

6. The Embassy’s informant states that some missionaries have already returned to their stations in that part of Chahar under Japanese control without interference from the Japanese and that others intend to return shortly.

By mail to Tokyo.

Lockhart

40. Not printed.
41. Commanding Mongol banner forces in Chahar, and Chairman of Autonomous Political Council.
42. Chairman of Suiyuan Provincial Government.
43. Pacification Commissioner of Shansi and Suiyuan.