861.77 Chinese Eastern/101: Telegram
The Minister in China (MacMurray) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 24—1:45 p.m.]
622. My 612, July 24 [23], 4 p.m. Following from Military Attaché now at Mukden: [Page 237]
“July 23, 9 a.m. Absence of military preparations together with official assertions of determined passive attitude here convince me local government has no intention of accepting possible Russian challenge. Responsible Japanese believe that Russia contemplates nothing more than demonstration on frontier. Officials declare that all negotiations now in hands of Nanking. Tendency to admit that final steps in Harbin were precipitate and to place responsibility for unauthorized action on President Lu Jung-huan.”