793.94/8148: Telegram
The Consul General at Canton (Linnell) to the Secretary of State
[Received 4:48 p.m.]
Regarding Pakhoi incident. Chinese gunboat Fookon returned to Canton yesterday bringing Dr. Ling and the other investigators sent to Pakhoi by the special delegate for Foreign Affairs. Investigators on landing at Pakhoi September 12 were met by threatening mob including Nineteenth Route Army soldiers and carrying anti-Japanese banners. Being unable to carry on any useful investigation they returned to Fookon and to Canton. Nineteenth Route Army Chief [Page 296] of Staff is said to have told Dr. Ling that a Japanese landing party would be resisted with force.
Press reports today stated that several Japanese war vessels are en route to Pakhoi and the gunboat Saga is evidently remaining off that port. Japanese Consul in charge [at] Canton, however, stated that so far as he is aware only the Saga is in the vicinity of Pakhoi.
Special delegate for Foreign Affairs told Japanese Consul that the Chinese authorities had taken all possible steps to get the Nineteenth Route Army out of Pakhoi but it is not known here whether they are leaving.
It does not appear that any further investigation will be undertaken by the local authorities until the Nineteenth Route Army has left Pakhoi.
Sent to the Department, Peiping, Nanking.