793.94/8364: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 18—9:23 a.m.]
556. Embassy’s 551, November 17, 3 p.m. Member of the Naval Attaché’s staff returning from Suiyuan yesterday reports that, although some fighting has occurred on the Suiyuan-Chahar border, press reports have been highly exaggerated; that the pro-Manchukuo” forces have not the strength and equipment reported; that neither troops nor airplanes have been sent into the province by the National Government with exception of small number of specialized troops, chiefly anti-aircraft men. He believes that no serious developments will occur in immediate future, although trouble may be expected intermittently for some time.
A British military officer reports along essentially same lines. He states that Chinese side seems to be exaggerating seriousness of situation in order to embarrass Japanese program; he considers, as did I in my 492, October 9, 5 p.m., that whole matter intimately connected with course of Sino-Japanese negotiations at Nanking.
A local Japanese military officer is quoted as having stated that [Page 380] important developments may be expected in Suiyuan within 10 days. Like predictions have been appearing in the press.
Langdon63 reports in a telegram received today that “This office accidentally learned from the air station that all aircraft excepting sufficient for skeleton Manchurian service have left for Mongolia, presumably Inner Mongolia”.
Repeated to Nanking and Tokyo.
- William R. Langdon, American Consul at Mukden.↩