JAPAN TRANS-PACIFIC FLIGHT FROM JAPAN TO THE UNITED STATES OF CLYDE E. PANGBORN AND HUGH HERNDon, Jr. Date and number Subject Page 1931 Apr. 2 (50) To the Ambassador in Japan (tel.) 1047 Instructions to obtain the necessary permission for proposed flight over Japanese territory of Clyde E. Pangborn and Hugh Herndon. Apr. 13 (51) From the Ambassador in Japan (tel.) 1047 Japanese Government's desire to know definitely the route of the Pangborn plane before issuing the permit. Apr. 21 (65) June 11 (80) To the Ambassador in Japan (tel.) From the Chargé in Japan (tel.) Information that permission has been granted for emergency landing or flight over Japanese territory if necessary, subject to usual restrictions against flying over fortified zones or carrying firearms or cameras, subsequent flights to be made only at the direction of Japanese officials. 1048 Information that permission is requested for the flight over 1048 Aug. 10 (117) From the Ambassador in Japan (tel.) 1048 Report that Herndon and Pangborn landed in Japan without a permit after flying over several fortified zones and taking moving pictures, that they have had a bad week-end with the police but have not been actually arrested. Aug. 15 (122) From the Ambassador in Japan (tel.) 1049 Information that Pangborn and Herndon have been fined 2,050 yen each or 205 days in prison. Aug. 15 (123) From the Ambassador in Japan (tel.) 1049 Japanese confiscation of camera and films belonging to Pangborn and Herndon, Aug. 15 (135) To the Ambassador in Japan (tel.) 1049 Inquiry as to whether the question of Herndon and Pangborn's flying their plane from Japan has been settled, and if not, instructions to urge upon authorities that they permit the flight in the interest of good will. Aug. 16 (124) From the Ambassador in Japan (tel.) 1049 Aug. 23 (126) Aug. 25 Information that the question of Herndon and Pangborn's permit to fly the Pacific has not been raised, but that the Embassy will try to have permission for the flight by the time necessary alterations to the plane are completed. From the Ambassador in Japan (tel.) Report that the Embassy has applied for a permit for the Memorandum by Mr. Ransford S. Miller of the Division of Far Discussion of the Pangborn-Herndon case and of possible 1050 1050 JAPAN TRANS-PACIFIC FLIGHT FROM JAPAN TO THE UNITED STATES OF CLYDE E. PANGBORN AND HUGH HERNDON, JR.-Continued Date and number Subject Page 1931 Aug. 27 Aug. 28 Aug. 30 (129) Sept. 1 (140) Sept. 11 (141) Sept. 14 (162) Sept. 14 (146) Sept. 15 (145) Memorandum by the Under Secretary of State Visit from the Japanese Ambassador, who was advised by the Information that the Japanese Ambassador, after his con- From the Ambassador in Japan (tel.) Information from the Communications Minister that it was From the American Ambassador in Japan to the Japanese Reference to earlier communications and discussions con- From the Ambassador in Japan_(tel.) Information from the Foreign Office that permission for the Pangborn-Herndon flight would be issued but that the Japanese Government would prefer postponement, possibly until spring, in view of opposition. Request that the Department consult the supporters of the flight and communicate instructions, as the flyers object to postponement. To the Ambassador in Japan (tel.) Advice that Department has consulted flight supporters, as Expression of hope for early issuance of the permit. Conversation with Herndon and Pangborn in which Am- 1051 1052 1052 1053 1053 1054 1054 1055 Expression of warm congratulations on the success of the JAPAN ADMISSION INTO THE UNITED STATES OF JAPANESE TREATY (TRADE) ALIENS Date and number 1931 Subject Page June 19 Memorandum by Mr. Ransford S. Miller of the Division of Far 1056 Account of conversations of June 15 and June 17 with Mr. Midzusawa of the Japanese Embassy concerning the difficulties relating to the admission into the United States of Japanese treaty (trade) aliens. ARRANGEMENT BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND JAPAN REGARDING ReciproCAL RECOGNITION OF LOAD-LINE CERTIFICATES EFFECTED BY EXCHANGE OF NOTES SIGNED FEBRUARY 13, 1931, MARCH 19 AND 30, 1931, AUGUST 25, 1931, AND SEPTEMBER 7, 1931 1931 Feb. 13 46 Mar. 19 30/Cl From the American Chargé in Japan to the Japanese Minister Inquiry whether the Japanese Government would be willing From the Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs to the American Request for assurances that American Charge's note of 1059 1060 1061 Mar. 30 (59) Aug. 25 (136) Sept. 7 (97/C1) From the American Ambassador in Japan to the Japanese Advice that the United States is recognizing the load-line marks approved by the Japanese Government. From the American Ambassador in Japan to the Japanese 1061 Notification that the U. S. Government has confirmed the From the Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs to the American Non-objection of the Japanese Government to the recogni- 1062 THE FAR EASTERN CRISIS OCCUPATION OF MANCHURIA BY JAPAN, BEGINNING OF JAPANESE MILITARY AGGRESSION, AND EFFORTS OF THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER POWERS TO PRESERVE PEACE1 793.94/1792 The Consul at Mukden (Vincent) to the Minister in China (Johnson)2 No. 440 MUKDEN, August 20, 1931. SIR: I have the honour to submit for the information of the Legation a brief account of the execution of the Japanese army captain, Nakamura, and his party between Taonan and Solun, by Chinese soldiers. The details of the incident were given me by Mr. Hayashi, Japanese Consul General at Mukden. Early in June Captain Nakamura obtained from the Mukden Special Delegate of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs a “huchao” for travel in Manchuria. This "huchao" excluded the territory between Taonan and Solun (Hsingan Colonization Area) from travel by the Captain. At Harbin, however, a second "huchao" was secured which, according to the Japanese Consul General, gave the desired permission to travel in the Taonan-Solun area. Captain Nakamura conducted "investigations” along the Chinese Eastern Railway at Manchuli, Tsitsihar, Angangchi, and Hailar. He secured the services of a Mongolian and a Russian interpreter, and also that of a Japanese named Isugi, a retired Japanese army sergeant who kept an inn at Angangchi. This party of four left Pokotu on the Chinese Eastern Railway about the middle of June, their immediate destination being Taonan. On June 27th the party were arrested by Chinese troops at a place called Suokungfu, a small place east of Solun between that town and Chalaite Wangfu. Although the place and manner of execution have not yet been fully established, it is believed that the party were taken to Solun where they were shot on July 1st and subsequently burned. The execution was carried out 1For additional documents on this subject for the year 1931, see Foreign Relations, Japan, 1931-1941, vol. 1, pp. 1–75. Papers printed in that volume are not reprinted here. 'Copy transmitted to the Department by the Consul in his despatch No. 29, August 20; received September 14. 'For summary of the Nakamura incident, see League of Nations, Appeal by the Chinese Government, Report of the Commission of Enquiry (C. 663. M. 320. 1932. VII, Geneva, October 1st, 1932), pp. 63 ff. 1 by order and in the presence of Kuan Yu-heng, commanding the 3rd Regiment of the Hsingan Reclamation Army during the absence in Mukden of Colonel Chao Kuan-wu, the regular commander. Japanese suspicions were aroused when the party failed to appear at Taonan at the scheduled time. Japanese newspapers in Manchuria were the first to secure rumours of the fate of the party. After the appearance of a news report about July 15th, the Japanese took steps to suppress all accounts of the incident pending a thorough investigation. For this reason it was not until August 17th that the first newspaper account of the execution appeared in the Manchurian papers. Consul General Hayashi has within the past few days taken up the case with General Tsang Shih-yi, Chairman of the Liaoning Provincial Government. He is demanding an indemnity, apology, punishment of the responsible Chinese army officers, and assurance of future protection. General Tsang Shih-yi has expressed a readiness to comply with these demands. Mr. Hayashi has confidence in his sincerity but very little in his ability to enforce execution of his orders. Mr. Hayashi assured me that the negotiations were entirely in his hands in spite of rumours to the effect that the Japanese military authorities were to interfere in securing a settlement. He deplored the attitude of military officials, mentioning a call which Major Mori, a Japanese army officer, had made upon General Tsang Shih-yi on July 17th. Major Mori is of the Japanese General Staff Office and was sent to Mukden by the Japanese Army apparently to investigate the case. He informed General Tsang Shih-yi of how seriously the Japanese Army viewed the incident and gave out the following report: "In dealing with so serious a case, nice diplomatic courtesies could not satisfy the Japanese Army, and I am here to see for myself what amount of sincerity is shown by the Chinese side handling the case. It goes without saying that, once we are satisfied of lack of sincerity on the Chinese side, the Japanese side might enforce its demand". This incident is believed to be the first in the history of Sino-Japanese relations where a Japanese army officer has been arrested and executed by the order of Chinese military authorities. The Japanese press in Manchuria is making much of the incident and Mr. Hayashi tells me that the outspoken indignation of the military authorities in Japan is exciting the Japanese populace. He did not indicate what action. might be taken in the event the Chinese did not meet the demands he has presented but I was led to believe that he is seriously concerned over the effect which protracted negotiations might have on Japanese feelings. |