793.04/5867
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Chinese Legation75
A telegram from Peiping reported that the Japanese have laid claim to Hulutao, alleging that it is the only military harbor of the bogus state of “Manchukuo”. The Second Squadron of the Japanese Navy is now at the harbor, joining it with the Kailuan Coal Mines under the protection of a large fleet. Rear Admiral Tsuda, Commander of the Japanese Second Squadron, after his conference with Lieutenant-General Omezu at Shanhaikwan, has proceeded on a flagship to Hulutao to direct the construction work of the harbor now being taken up by the South Manchuria Railway Company. The protest of the Netherlands against this construction work is entirely disregarded.
The publication of the telegram of General Tang Yu-lin, Governor of Jehol, professing his determination to resist Japanese aggression was very favorably received by the people of Jehol. All the organizations for the resistance against Japanese aggressions in Chengteh (Jehol City) are now greatly enlarged and are working openly and unitedly for their common purpose. After the Japanese Consulate at Chifeng has been withdrawn, there is now no Japanese in the whole Province of Jehol which is peculiar to the Provinces of North China. The handful of Chinese traitors, realizing the pressure of public opinion, have fled severally from the Province.
- Translation of telegram transmitted to the Department by the Chinese Legation on February 7.↩