two railways, one being the Shihkiachwang-Tsangchow Railway, although this will probably not go to Tsangchow but will run direct from Shihkiachwang to Tientsin, thereby cutting short the route, the other being the Tsinanfu-Shunteh Railway. Final agreements on railways await the conversations of the Japanese Ambassador with Chiang. The Japanese insist on their financial participation in the construction work of both railways. The first railway will open up the coal fields of Shansi, although this will depend on agreements made with the Shansi authorities, with whom it is difficult to make agreements. National Government influence is increasing there. The second railway will not only open up Shansi coal fields but will also open up a cotton and agricultural area. The second step of the program will be the development of agricultural products, including cotton. The Shansi authorities have refused to permit the Japanese to establish a cotton experimental station at Taiyuan. However, the Japanese intend to establish such stations next spring at Tungchow and at Tientsin. The cotton growing plan has progressed no further than this. The third step will be development of mining, which will be confined to coal and iron, the latter not being very hopeful, and possibly gold. The whole program will be expensive for Japan. It is believed that the Foreign Office official Kuwashima, who has gone to Osaka to persuade Japanese there to invest in North China, will be successful because such investment is a matter of national policy although it may not be regarded by them optimistically. 5. The new Chief of Staff of the North China Garrison, Major General Gun Hashimoto, arrived at Tientsin August 18. In accordance with the present policy of the central authority, he is a moderate. He has had no Kwantung army experience and although clever it is feared he may be unable to control his subordinates. 6. There is no change in the North China situation and a five province regime is no nearer than it was 2 months ago. By mail to Tokyo. JOHNSON 393.1163 Seventh Day Adventist/25: Telegram The Ambassador in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State PEIPING, September 1, 1936-noon. [Received September 1-7 a. m.] 427. Reverend Otto Christensen, Seventh Day Adventist Mission at Kalgan, informs me that his mission has for some years maintained activities between [sic] north of Changpei; that up until recently he has been able to maintain contact with this activity without interference from Japanese and Mongols under Japanese supervision who now hold Changpei and Chapsur; but that recently he encountered difficulty in trying to get from the Mongols permit to continue and enlarge the mission work to which they have hitherto been friendly. He was unable to see any one in real authority, but has heard from Mongol conversations reports which he believes to be true that the Mongols under Japanese instigation are preparing to force all foreigners out of area immediately north of Kalgan except of course Japanese. He believes that this act of exclusion will include even Larson, who is understood to be a Mongol citizen. He stated that an American named Wardell, formerly a missionary but now employed by Larson in charge of his gardens at Chapsur had been told to leave. I understand that such exclusion if carried out would affect some four Americans resident in that area. He informed me that it has been currently reported among Mongols that the Japanese are enlisting and arming Chinese bandits for the purpose of sending them west to make trouble, and that it is these people, and the Mongol soldiers from Jehol who are being pushed into Chahar by the Japanese, [who?] only make trouble. He has visited the Japanese military mission at Kalgan and Japanese in Mongolia to obtain permits, but had been invariably informed that they, the Japanese, have nothing to do with permits in that area, although Mongols told them that they cannot issue permits without Japanese approval. I have told Christensen whose residence is in Kalgan that I feel it would be unsafe for him and other Americans to attempt to remain in that area without permits. I have told him that there is little or nothing I can do to guarantee the continuance of his liberty to go and come in that area. I suggested to him that he give me in writing, a statement of the activities of his mission in that area, as well as a list of their properties. If and when I receive this I propose to send it to the Japanese Embassy here with a request that orders be issued to Japanese in that area to look out for and protect Americans there. JOHNSON 893.01 Inner Mongolia/78: Telegram The Ambassador in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State PEIPING, September 1, 1936-2 p. m. [Received September 1-11:30 a. m.] 429. Reference Embassy's 427, September 1, noon. (1) Information has been obtained with regard to conditions in Inner Mongolia in Chahar and eastern Suiyuan under Japanese control from two Mongol-speaking foreigners who have just returned from that area after a 3 months' and 1 month's visit respectively. Their information, which is contained in paragraph 2, is not conflicting and it substantiates information submitted by the Embassy in previous telegrams. (2) There are apparently not Japanese troops in the area in question, but there are Japanese officers and some thousands of Manchukuo and Mongol forces. The Mongols do the bidding of the Japanese only and admit their fear of the Japanese and because Prince Teh is heavily in debt to them as the result of purchases of military supplies. Chinese renegades and bandits, together with some Mongols of similar character, continue to gather in the vicinity of Shangtu in the extreme west of Chahar northeast of Pingtichuan and are allegedly and presumably receiving arms and money from Japan. (3) An American resident of Suiyuan states that residents of Suiyuan are apprehensive of the allegedly impending westward movement of the above-mentioned elements and that definite preparations are being pushed. (4) The attitude of Fu Tso Yi, however, is not known. The Chief of Staff of the Kwantung army visited Fu at Kueihwa on August 25 and 26. The purpose and outcome of the visit are not known. Itagaki also visited Yin Ju Keng but did not see Sung Che Yuan. His visit to Yin has aroused speculation in connection with the Japanese Ambassador's alleged statement to the Chinese press that East Hopei and North Chahar should be united. By mail to Tokyo. JOHNSON 893.01 Manchuria/1362 The Consul at Mukden (Langdon) to the Ambassador in China No. 18 MUKDEN, September 2, 1936. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the Embassy's instruction of August 28, 1936, directing that I report on the present status of the question of residence in Sinpin of American citizens. As was reported by the Consulate General on April 22, all citizens except Father Haggerty of the Catholic Mission and all British subjects had withdrawn from Sinpin. In the meantime, Rev. W. T. Cook, head of the American Presbyterian Mission at Sinpin, has inquired several times whether conditions permitted his return there. A copy of his letter of August 3 in this connection and of my reply is enclosed. As will be noted in my reply, Dr. Cook was discouraged from resuming work at Sinpin. At the present moment only Father "Copy transmitted to the Department by the Consul at Mukden in his unnumbered despatch of September 2; received October 6. "Neither printed. Haggerty remains in Sinpin, the other American and the British (Presbyterian) missionaries staying in Korea or Mukden awaiting developments. I have little hope of any early change in the situation that might allow the return of the missionaries to Sinpin. Conditions in the Sinpin region are most disturbed and insecure. In fact, guerilla warfare of a desperate nature has been going on there in the past few months. The insurgents of that area, Chinese political "bandits" and Korean communists and irredentists, are the most numerous and best organized in Manchuria. On August 17, for example, a mixed force of 2000 of them attacked the walled town of Fusung, a little over 100 miles east of Sinpin, killed 9 and wounded 6 of the defence forces, in addition to some townsmen, burned 24 government offices and 261 private houses,* and were only driven off by superior land and air forces rushed from the closest Japanese garrisons. Apart from the personal danger of living in such a disturbed zone, there is the likelihood that Korean insurgents may use the mission servants and native helpers, all Koreans, as instruments for espionage and communication. In any event, this is what the Japanese military and consular authorities at Sinpin are afraid of, to judge by their refusal at the time to recommend any Korean, even a baby amah, for domestic service at the mission (see previous correspondence). In this connection, I may state that not long ago Colonel Kato, Commander of the Japanese Gendarmes at Mukden, told Consul General Ballantine and me that we should not judge his command too harshly for the examinations and arrests it had made of native employees of foreign companies and missions, as we had no idea of how much seditious activity was going on under the unwitting cloaks of foreigners. In view of the sinister state of affairs in the Sinpin area, of the evident distrust of every Korean there, and of the fact that the American Presbyterian mission works exclusively among the Korean population, I feel that it would be unsafe, if at all feasible, for members of that mission to resume work before the area has been reasonably pacified. I shall therefore advise Dr. Cook and his associates to stay away from Sinpin for the time being. As has already been said, Father Haggerty remains in Sinpin despite the Consulate General's advice to him that he come away. His work, however, is among Chinese and he has reported no arrest or treatment of his servants or native assistants suggesting official suspicion of their character. Nevertheless, the fact that his colleague Father Burns was kidnapped by insurgents last February at Tunghwa, fifty miles or *Official release August 30, 1936, Kokutsu. [Footnote in the original.] so to the east, and is still held captive,92 shows that he too is running a risk in remaining in Sinpin. Very respectfully yours, 393.1163 Seventh Day Adventist/26: Telegram WM. R. LANGDON The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in China (Johnson) WASHINGTON, September 4, 1936-5 p. m. 215. Your 427, September 1, noon. With regard to the last paragraph of the telegram under reference, the Department perceives no objection to sending to the Japanese Embassy the statement and list referred to but feels that you should avoid expressly asking that Embassy to issue orders to protect American citizens. It is suggested that in sending the above-mentioned statement and list to the Japanese Embassy you might indicate that this information is supplied for the purpose of acquainting it with the location of American citizens and their property in that area in order that Americans may not be interfered with or their property damaged. HULL 893.00/13692: Telegram The Second Secretary of Embassy in China (Atcheson) to the Secretary of State NANKING, September 5, 1936-noon. [Received September 5-10:50 a. m.] 260. My 255, September 1, 10 a. m.93 1. According to the press, Wang Chung Hui did not accompany the Peace Mission to Nanning on account of illness and the mission's journey was delayed by weather. Reuter at Canton reports September 4 that the Peace Conference at Nanning has come to a deadlock because Li Tsung Jen and Pai Chung Hsi insist that, (1) they remain at Kwangsi as Pacification Commissioner and Vice-Commissioner and, (2) Li Chi Sen be appointed Kwangsi Chairman. It is stated that Chiang Kai Shek's representatives were to return to Canton yesterday. 2. We have so far been unable to obtain reliable information concerning the Nanning negotiations or the plans of the Government if the deadlock continues. As opposed to the statement of a Foreign Office official under cover in paragraph 3 of the telegram under reference, I am informed by a senior officer of the Executive Yuan that the Government will in no circumstances, other than an attack by Japanese, launch into contests, although its position is legally and 92 Father Burns was released in mid-November 1936. 93 Not printed. |