793.94/7498: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 8—10:55 a.m.]
209. Embassy’s 203, December 6, 1 p.m. Chinese circles today appear to be confident that there will be established Hopeh and Chahar the mooted semi-autonomous government with the acquiescence of the National Government. This development is said to have resulted from conversations between Tada and Hsiao Chen-ying at Tientsin on December 6 and two conferences between Ho Ying-chin and Hsiao and other leaders in Peiping yesterday. The press states that required formal sanction will probably be given by the National Government at the first meeting of the Executive Yuan on December 10.
It is denied that prominent member of the old Peiyang and Anfu cliques will participate in the autonomous government. It is evidently hoped that Sung Che-yuan, who has not taken any direct part in the negotiations of the past few days, can be persuaded to head the semi-autonomous government. Hsiao Chen-ying is expected to become Chairman of Hopeh. It is reported that the East Hopeh autonomous committee would in such circumstances be abolished and Yin Ju-keng given a position on the new committee for the two provinces. It is stated that salt and customs revenues would be remitted to Nanking as before, other revenues being retained here.
Reuter reports that Ho Ying-chin plans to leave Nanking tomorrow. Lieutenant Colonel Kita, chief of the China section of the Japanese [Page 480] Army General Staff, is scheduled to arrive in Tientsin on December 10. The local Japanese press today indicates that his visit is in connection with the question of increasing the size of the Japanese garrison in North China which is described as a matter of importance in view of the growing intimacy of relations between Japan, “Manchukuo” and North China.
Repeated to Nanking, by mail to Tokyo.