893.01 Outer Mongolia/46: Telegram
The Chargé in the Soviet Union (Henderson) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 20—12:10 p.m.]
532. Tass communiqué December 19th from Ulan Bator published in today’s Pravda reports serious incident on Mongolo-Manchurian [Page 493] frontier near Buir-Nor. Motorized detachment of 10 Japanese motor vehicles, including ambulance, fired upon Mongolian frontier guards, to whom orders had been issued in advance to retreat in the face of Japanese provocations. Several Mongols reported killed.
Today’s announcement follows warning issued in Soviet press December 18th that provocations on the part of Kwantung Army were about to take place. No editorial comment.
Soviet officials continue in private conversation to minimize seriousness of Mongolian-“Manchukuo” disturbances. One of them yesterday stated that Soviet Government feels that Japan will continue to stir up trouble in Outer Mongolia in order to use situation as a bargaining point in negotiations relating to other subjects. He also flatly denied that the Soviet Government had any intentions to sign a defensive alliance with Mongolia at the present time.