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Report 6. British Embassy, Peiping
In confirmation of telephone conversations with Mr. HOWE and Mr. A.L.SCOTT to-day. 1. Yesterday evening Dr. MULLER informed me that MATSUI, Chief of the Japanese Military Mission in KALGAN, had told him that news had been received that JONES had been taken, to the FENGNING area in JEHOL. Our conversation was by phone, and I had no map available at the time, I understood him to mean the vicinity of FENGNING Hsien itself, as although this point, was not made clear, Dr. MULLER stated that the bandits were now a very considerable distance within the Province of JEHOL. MATSUI also informed MULLER that the Japanese Authorities, in CHENGTEH had been ordered to take all possible steps to effect the release or JONES, and that he, MATSUI, was of the opinion that this could be accomplished without resort to forces. MULLER left for PEIPING at noon this morning, as he was of the opinion that the Chinese Authorities would now be unable to do any more in the matter, and that JONEE would be released and would return direct to PEIPING via CHENGTEH. I understand that MULLER intends to proceed to JEHOL, if possible. 2. This morning I interviewed Mr. YUEH, the Commissioner for Foreign Affairs, who stated that as far as he knew, no further news had been received. He asked my opinion, as to the reliability of Dr. ‘MULLERI to which I replied that having met him for the first time a few days ago, and knowing nothing concerning his history, I was unable to form any definite opinion. Mr. YUEH was of the opinion that MULLER’s story should be accepted with reserve, but he declined to be more explicit. Apart from the statement of NAIR, the Indian, it was generally believed that the Japanese were preparing to take some more definite line of action in CHAHAR, but whether or not this would take the form of a military occupation, was not known. 3. At 2.30 p.m. this afternoon I interviewed Mr. YANG, who as Chief Representative of the Chahar Government in Kalgan, is responsible for the conduct of this case. This interview, unlike its predecessors, was characterised by the strictest secrecy, only Mr. YANG, a secretary, and myself being present. It took place ins small room, all the doors and windows being closed, and to which no attendants, etc., were allowed access. In my very limited experience these precautions are rarely adopted by the Chinese, even it the subject under discussion is confidential. The following is a resume of Mr. YANG’s statement:- The Japanese at DOLONOR being incensed at Dr. MULLER’s inquisitiveness (he had examined their cars, taken photographs, and made numerous inquiries concerning their intentions etc.), had deliberately advised him not to take the usual road on his return journey, and had then organised the capture of himself and JONES. PAO FANG WU then asked the Japanese how the two prisoners should be disposed of, and the Japanese agreed that Dr. MULLER being German, should be released, and that JONES, being English, should be retained. After MULLER was released and had told his story in KALGAN and PEIPING, which tended to implicate the Japanese, the latter blamed PAO for releasing him, and placed PA0 under arrest, - he is still in confinement. JONES was then handed over to another group of bandits under the leadership of TUAN - these bandits are mostly disbanded soldiers. The two Japanese advisers are still in attendance. The final demand for $8000 was made without the knowledge of the Japanese. PAO, being in a semi-independent position. Yesterday, an emissary despatched from KUYUAN, returned, having gained contact with the TUAN group of bandits. He stated that at the instigation of the Japanese the ransom demanded had been increased to $100,000, but that JONES’s life was not in danger. These bandits moved continually, but were normally only a “few tens of li” within the JEHOL boundary. The Provincial authorities were now negotiating for the release of JONES outwardly, with TUAN, but in actual fact with his Japanese adviser’s (a face-saving” device). The Japanese Military Mission at KALGAN and DOLONOR had recently both approached the Provincial Authorities asking if they could be of any assistance in effecting JONES’s release - these offers have not yet been accepted. : There are representatives of 3 separate and semi-independent Japanese Military, organisations in the JEHOL-CHAHAR-INNERMONGOLIA area viz:.. The KWANTUNG Special Service Bureau, The Tientsin Protocol Troops, and the Manchukuo Army. It is uncertain to which of these organisation the Japanese advisers belong. Finally, Mr. YANG said that he would like to ask my advice as to whether or not the Provincia1 Authorities should accept the Japanese offer assistance, to which I replied:- (1) That H.M. Embassy was concerned, not with ways and means, but with results. (2) That I was not in a position to offer any advice on such a subject not being. sufficiently conversant with the local Chino-Japanese Situation. (3) That this was a question of policy, entirely dependent on whether or not the Chinese Authorities considered that they- were in a position speedily to effect the release of JONES without Japanese assistance – a question they alone could decide..- 2. I then asked Nr. YANG the following questions:; Q, Are you satisfied that the information that you have received tending to implicate the Japanese, is entirely to be relied upon? A. Yes, the evidence we have received that this outrage was instigated by the Japanese, is conclusive. Q. Which particular Japanese Organisation is considered responsible? A. We do not know. Q. Do you consider that you have reasonable prospects of speedily effecting JONES’s release, without Japanese official co-operation? A. Yes, we are at present in touch with the bandits, and providing only a ransom is required we have every hope of releasing the prisoner within a few days. Q. If, as you say, the Japanese are responsible for this affair, do you consider it likely that they will cause JONES to be released merely on payment of a ransom? A. We hope so, and we are working on this assumption, should this prove incorrect, then we shall have no alternative but to accept the offer of Japanese co-operation. Q Does not the tact that the bandits are now in JEHOL make negotiations somewhat difficult? A. Yes, but we have every hope that if they were offered sufficient inducement, they will return to CHAHAR, and we are at present working with this end in view. As previously indicated, the fact that the bandits are in JEHOL does not prevent us from communicating with them. Q. Apart from the most obvious consideration (implying consequent “loss of face”) why are you unwilling to accept the Japanese offer of assistance? A. Because we tear that such assistance would be granted only at a price which we could ill afford to pay e.g. in return for some political concession Q. Do you consider that Dr. MULLER’S story is reliable? A. Yes, most of it. Q. Why, if the Japanese were annoyed at Dr. MULLER’S actions, and for this reason arranged his capture, do you suppose that they ordered his release? A. Because he is a German, and the relations of the Germans and the Japanese are very friendly. Q. How soon will you know whether or not your efforts to bring about the release of the prisoner by payment of a ransom, will be successful? A. We cannot say, but hope to receive further news tomorrow. Q. Have you any information as to whether or not the Japanese, on their own responsibility are taking measures with the avowed intention of releasing the captive. A. We have no information on this subject. 3. This interview has been described at some length, in the hope of providing sufficient material to make possible an appreciation of the estuation. If would appear that the possibility of JONES’s release being effected solely by the effort of the Chinese authorities, is somewhat remote. On the other hand their methods are so tortuous and obscure that they may be able to elicit “unofficial” Japanese assistance through the two Japanese advisers said two be working with the bandits. - If, however, this affair is of Japanese instigation, one has no reason to suppose that JONES will be released unless the Chinese make official representations to the Japanese, or, the matter is taken up with the Japanese by H.M Embassy: -. Again, it is more than likely that the Chinese Authorities unaided, have little or no hope of effecting JONES’s release, but are unwilling to admit this. - (BGD) K.E.F. Millar Lieut. The Border Regt. KALGAN 6.8.35.
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