793.94/7492: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 6—10:15 a.m.]
203. Embassy’s 202, December 5, 11 a.m. Sung Che-yuan went into seclusion yesterday. There is some doubt as to his whereabouts but he is probably in Tientsin. By doing this he has thrown the responsibility for solving the North China situation onto Ho Ying-chin. Sung’s action may be explained by the fact that he has been in a most delicate position. On the one hand, he is convinced that if he resists Japanese pressure on him to declare autonomy the Japanese [Page 475] will use military force thereby eliminating him from the political field. On the other hand, Ho has arrived without any definite plan thereby contributing nothing helpful to Sung’s situation. Since Nanking’s error in dismissing Sung last June from the Chairmanship of Chahar, Nanking has in no way extended him any assistance or advice other than one telegram of November 19 telling him not to declare autonomy. If he holds out against Japanese pressure he has good reason to believe that he will not obtain any real assistance from the National Government. (Well-informed Chinese here state that Nanking has no intention of risking war with Japan to save Hopei and Chahar.)
2. The situation today is considerably worse than any time since Ho’s arrival. It is extremely doubtful that the Japanese will agree to any compromise plan of Ho even if he can evolve one. (One of Sung’s counsellors stated yesterday that the Japanese desire that North China shall definitely sever relations with Nanking under the guise of “autonomy”.) It is anticipated by responsible Chinese that Ho will leave for the South in the near future without having accomplished anything. Autonomy of Hopei and Chahar appear, therefore, to be nearer and practically inevitable. Even if Sung does not declare autonomy the Japanese will have no difficulty in finding some Chinese such as Hsiao Chen-ying or Yin Ju-keng to do so. In fact, Hsiao at the moment seems to be the chief supporter of the Japanese plan, his efforts presumably being abetted by such plotters as Tsao Ju-lin and Wang Yi-tang.
Yin Ju-keng’s plane flew over Peiping yesterday dropping handbills urging support of autonomy. The bills were signed by “the Associated Autonomous Societies of Eastern Hopei.” It is reliably stated that Yin’s plane is a British-made Japanese-owned plane now piloted by a Japanese. After the flight of Yin’s plane five Japanese planes flew over Peiping. Later nine Japanese planes flew over the city.
Fifty to seventy-five persons demonstrated yesterday in front of Ho’s residence in favor of autonomy. Nine Japanese combat planes and three bombers without racks are flying over Peiping at present. Some of them have flown low over the American Embassy three times this morning.