893.00/4–1146: Telegram
The Consul General at Mukden (Clubb) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 12—6:30 a.m.]
22. Yesterday some 2 or 3,000 student demonstrators proceeded local hotel housing Chinese Army officers and expressed following slogans per handbill and report: (1) oppose special setup for northeast, (2) welcome quick takeover northeast by Government army, (3) desire only extermination bandits and no mediation, (4) energetically seek national integrity, (5) northeast wants no bandits, beat the bandits out, (6) eliminate enemy influence from northeast? (indistinct type).
Deputy Commander 52nd Army received demonstrators informing them no Communists were present. Observer reports seeing printed slogan Chinchow to effect “Stop Big Three from coming to northeast”. Editorial April 1 issue local Sino-Soviet Daily News (Kmt) on subject “Manchurian problems—what our American friends should know” expressed Chinese gratitude friendly concern shown by Americans by participating in visit truce teams “which occurs at moment when China is taking over Manchuria from Soviet Union”; stating that primary problem in Manchuria is one of diplomatic nature, that of taking over, editorial observes that Chinese National troops are unable smoothly effect duty of taking over territory due to obstruction “renegades recruited from Japanese and puppet remnant evildoers”. “We wish to stress that the Manchurian problem arises first from delay Soviet withdrawal which has delayed China from taking over Manchuria and secondly from fact that although Soviet troops have begun withdrawal by degrees, these renegades have stepped in to block way of National troops in their assigned task of taking over.” Editorial further states that after Japanese surrender certain schemers created extraneous force from former Manchoukuo Army for purpose undermining Sino-Soviet friendship. Those schemers, it continued, have tried to use this force to hinder takeover by National troops with intention turning Manchuria into “special area” in violation [Page 758] Nine Power Pact.8 For faithful realization Sino-Soviet and Nine Power Pacts it is incumbent upon National troops exterminate these Japanese and puppet evildoers. Final point adduced for attention Americans is repatriation Japanese military and civilians from Manchuria. “Task of allied Soviet Army in Manchuria is confined to disarming Japanese troops and accepting their surrender while concentration Japanese and repatriation is China’s task”. It is exigent that National troops proceed quickly to areas evacuated by Soviets and subject Japanese to strict surveillance in specified areas. “American assistance is needed for repatriating those Japanese.” Editorial concludes, “We hope that our American friends, after a short stay in Manchuria, will come around to our point of view and agree with us.”
Sent Department, repeated Chungking as 7: Peiping as 4.
- Signed at Washington. February 6, 1922: Foreign Relations, 1922, vol. i, p. 276.↩