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FOREIGN RELATIONS, 1934, VOLUME III


fidently have been expected. Soviet Ambassador regarded the present
Soviet-Japanese tension as serious stating that there was danger that
Japan might seize Chinese Eastern Railway thus creating a situation
of great difficulty for Soviet Russia which does not desire to engage
in war.
                                                         JOHNSON

702.4193 Manchuria/8: Telegram
    The Minister in China (John8on) to the Secretary of State

                               PEIPING, September 4, 1934 4 p. m.
                               [Received September 4-11: 45 a. m.]
  398. Department's 275, August 30 [31], 5 p. M.88 Following from
American Consul General at Mukden:
  &quot;September 3, 1 p. m. Referring to Legation's telegram September
2, 11 a. m., the Japanese Consulate General reported August 20th that
Ford's assailant had been identified: that, however, he claimed having
struck Ford only after the party had refused to turn back from the
road which was under construction and closed and after Ford had
struck him with a whip.
  On August 23rd the British Consulate General and I made strong
oral representation to the General pointing out that this story flatly
contradicted the testimony of all the foreigners and that Ford carried
no whip and requesting a thorough reinvestigation and appropriate
punishment of the Japanese assailants. The affair is again under in-
vestigation and decision is understood to have been referred to the
Kwantung army in whose employ the construction gang was working.
There is every reason to believe that the authorities' report will again
be unsatisfactory and that they will refuse to punish the offenders.
In this event possible further steps would appear to consist in (1)
diplomatic action or (2) the bringing of suit by Ford and possibly
Rowsome. The British Consul General is awaiting instructions from
his Legation which has detailed information on the case.&quot;
  2. British Legation states that it has informed British Consul
General [at] Mukden that it believes that no good purpose would be
served by the institution of legal proceedings by the British Vice Con-
sul against his assailant; that the Consul General should endeavor to
bring about a satisfactory local settlement of the case failing which
he should make full report to the British Ambassador in Tokyo for
appropriate action vis-a-vis the Japanese Government. The British
Legation adds that such instruction is of course subject to modification
by the British Foreign Office to which report of the Legation's action
has been made.


8 Not printed; it requested a report of developments. See telegram No. 372,
August 21,4 p. m., from the Minister in China, p. 249.


268


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