THE FAR EASTERN CRISIS



sympathy with the Japanese military, stated that, although he had
little actual information about the plans of the military, he had cer-
tain opinions which he would express in strict confidence.
  This officer stated that he thought it quite probable that Inner
Mongolia would before long be a part of Pu Yi's empire. When
questioned with regard to the possibility of Japanese expansion fur-
ther west, that is, into Sinkiang, where Japanese agents are now said
to be at work, he expressed the view that such expansion, although
possible, belongs to the distant future, if it is to occur at all. He does
not believe that Pu Yi's capital will be moved from Changchun. Ad-
mitting that there are Japanese agents attempting to bribe Chinese
leaders in North China to become independent of Nanking for the
purpose of expanding "Manchukuo" into this area, he apparently
believes that these agents lack sufficient funds for the purpose as well
as the support of the proper Japanese authorities elsewhere. His
statements indicated that, in his opinion, Japanese leaders are still
not in agreement on Japan's policy of expansion on the continent and
that he seems to think that the more conservative Japanese leaders
would be able to prevent the establishment of an independent North
China through Japanese activities and its absorption by "Manchu-
kuo". His own opinion in this connection was that such over-expan-
sion as the absorption of North China would cause the eventual col-
lapse. of Japan. Referring to the division of opinion among Japanese
leaders, he said that he regarded General Araki as as much of a puppet
as Pu Yi and thought that if General Araki were to die there would
be no difficulty in finding another military puppet to take his place.
He views those younger officers who were responsible for the conquest
of Manchuria as being still a source of difficulty and danger. In
this connection he said that he feels that they were responsible for the
death of General Muto, Japan's first ambassador to "Manchukuo",
who, being "an honorable and upright man", died as a result of
the
unhappiness caused him by those younger officers. He himself, he
added, was brought up to believe in "honor" but that recent events-
referring to the Japanese military-have made him "very pessimistic".
  Respectfully yours,                    NELSON TRUSLER JOHNSON

861.77 Chinese Eastern/1287
The Consul General at Harbin (Hanson) to the Minister in China
                            (JJohnson) '
No. 2757                                 HARBIN, January 18, 1934.
  SIR: I have the honor to report that the Japanese Consul General,
Mr. Morishima, informed me yesterday that he had been conducting

6 Copy transmitted to the Department by the Consul General at Harbin in his
despatch No. 5946, January 18; received February 10.



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