793.94/9639: Telegram
The Counselor of Embassy in China (Lockhart) to the Secretary of State
Peiping, August 24, 1937—5
p.m.
[Received August 24—8:05 a.m.]
[Received August 24—8:05 a.m.]
470. Embassy’s 467, August 23, 5 p.m.60
- 1.
- Foreign newspaper correspondents were informed this morning by the local press section of the North China garrison that Japanese troops occupied Kalgan August 22, having arrived there from Jehol; that these troops are proceeding toward Nankou; that Japanese planes are today bombing towns along the Peiping-Suiyuan Railway between Kalgan and Nankou; and that the Japanese expect the Chinese troops in that area to retire westward.
- 2.
- An American newspaper man went yesterday to within sight of Chuyungkuan, which is one-third of the way within Nankou Pass from the south. He states that a Japanese heavy offensive against Chuyungkuan was in progress yesterday. According to Japanese military, a Japanese offensive at that place was in progress August 20 (Embassy’s 457, August 20, 5 p.m.60).
- 3.
- Disturbed conditions in the Western Hills continue. Chinese and foreign eye witnesses report that the bandits, allegedly troops of the notorious Lin Kuei Tang, are fraternizing with Japanese soldiers in that area.
- 4.
- The Japanese are remodeling a building on Legation Street in the Legation Quarter for the purpose of establishing a post office for the use of Japanese residents of Peiping. It is authoritatively stated that the Japanese military authorities as from yesterday have established a censorship of mails in the central post office at Peiping, apparently under the same conditions as those prevailing at Tientsin and previously reported.
Repeat to Embassy at Nanking.
Lockhart