861.77 Chinese Eastern/31: Telegram
The Minister in China (MacMurray) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 17—5:43 p.m.]
583. (1) Perkins85 has been informed in strict confidence that Karakhan stated, in an interview with … at Moscow, that the Soviet Government was determined to force the issue with China. From the impression which … received, the Soviet Government suspects a third power (Japan, no doubt) as having been behind the Chinese in the action they took. The Japanese Legation learns from its Nanking reports of the Chinese Government’s serious perturbation due to the sort of comments published in foreign newspapers, in both China and abroad, particularly comment such as has appeared in the Manchester Guardian, and of the feeling that China’s attitude must be moderated. A similar feeling exists also at Mukden. There some of the Chinese leaders consider the Russians to be powerless, but despite this others do not feel so optimistic and are apprehensive lest the Soviet Government should occupy Sinkiang or sever all communications with the railway in Manchuria. It seems that the various chairmen of the Three Eastern Provincial Governments held a meeting at Mukden on June 3, anniversary of the attack on Marshal Chang Tso-lin, at which meeting they decided to take action respecting the railroad. Telegrams were subsequently exchanged with the Foreign Office at Nanking, and thereupon Marshal Chang Hsüeh-liang visited Peking to confer with General Chiang Kai-shek and Dr. C. T. Wang. Several divisions of troops under Generals Chang Tso-hsiang and Wan Fu-lin, of Kirin and Heilungkiang, respectively, were sent on July 8 and 10 toward the Russian frontier. Since then, travelers who have arrived in Harbin report the movement also of Soviet troops toward the Manchurian border.
(2) The Department has presumably received the Russian Tass Agency’s English version of what professes to be the Soviet Government’s note handed on July 15 to the Chinese Chargé at Moscow.86 It is reported that Chiang Kai-shek, in the absence of Dr. Wang from Nanking, has called the State Council to meet to consider the [Page 208] Soviet note. Dr. Wang is now on his way back to Nanking via Tsingtao from Peking. Despite the serious situation, Marshal Chang Hsüeh-liang is understood still to be at Peitaiho, whither he went from Peking on receiving news of his son’s death.
(3) The above has been mailed to the Embassy at Tokyo.