Office of the Historian

793.94/8541: Telegram

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

Peiping, March 16, 1937—5 p.m.
[Received March 16—3 p.m.]

92. Embassy’s 88, March 11, 4 p.m.

1.
The informant mentioned in paragraph 1 of that telegram states that he has just been reliably informed that a Monkokuo (Mongolian state) has been definitely established, that it includes all of Chahar [Page 48] Province north of the Great Wall, that Chapsur is its capital, that the “Government” has a president (presumably Prince Teh), a vice president, a prime minister and 100 other Mongols, participating in that capacity, together with Japanese advisers, and that a tariff schedule has been published.
2.
This information, which has not been confirmed, is believed to have come originally from the foreigner54 mentioned on page 3 of the Embassy’s despatch 618 July 31, 1936,55 who has recently been at his residence mentioned on that page.
3.
Reports of such a régime has been rumored from time to time. If it proves to be true it would seem to render less likely the return of this area to Chinese control through negotiations at some future time.
4.
Similarly the reputed circulation in Yin Ju Keng’s area in east Hopei56 during this month of money issued by that régime’s bank, for the purpose of replacing the Chinese money now circulating there, will apparently create still another barrier to a rendition through negotiation of this Japanese-controlled area to Chinese control.
5.
There is at present a 3-day celebration in progress at Kueihwa, consisting of a memorial service March 15 for those Chinese who fell in the fighting of last November and December with Japanese-directed forces, a review March 16 and the opening March 17 of the 1937 session of the Suiyuan Mongol Council. These ceremonies are attended by Wang Ching Wei, Yen Hsi Shan, and other officials from outside Suiyuan and are evidence of Chinese intention to resist Japanese expansion westward from Chahar.

By mail to Tokyo.

Lockhart
  1. The Swedish dealer, known as “Duke” Larson, who lived north of Chapsur.↩
  2. Foreign Relations, 1936, vol. iv, p. 255.↩
  3. Yin styled himself Governor of East Hopei (“Communist-prevention Autonomous Council”).↩