893.01 Manchuria/755
The Consul General at Harbin (Hanson) to the Minister in China (Johnson)71
Sir: I have the honor to enclose herewith copies, in translation, of memoranda72 submitted to this office by a Russian on December 13th [Page 435] in regard to the Japanese request that General Su Ping Wen be handed over to them and in regard to the situation in Japan.
It must have been clear to the Japanese that Soviet Russia would not hand General Su and his staff over to the Japanese army or to Manchoukuo. Reports were spread first that he had been handed over in the local press. The Japanese controlled Russian, Japanese and Chinese newspapers at Harbin expressed themselves as indignant that Soviet Russia should delay in handing over General Su, but after the categorical refusal of Soviet Russia to do so and the resumption of diplomatic relations between Soviet Russia and China, this press softened its tone and stated that this would not be considered as the cause of a serious break between Soviet Russia and Japan, but that it was simply one of many diplomatic questions which were to be settled by the two governments.
In regard to the memorandum concerning the situation in Japan, this office is not in a position to comment thereon.
Respectfully yours,