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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
Japanese territory in case of an emergency.

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
Herndon-Pangborn flight to depart, that the Foreign Minister
himself is now handling the matter, and that the customs
require a guaranty in the nature of a bond for payment of duty
before releasing the plane.

Memorandum by Mr. Ransford S. Miller of the Division of Far
Eastern Affairs of a Conversation With the Japanese
Counselor of Embassy

Discussion of the Pangborn-Herndon case and of possible
helpful action by the Japanese Embassy, especially in view
of the pending decision concerning permission for the resump-
tion of the flight.

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
Under Secretary that some decision should be reached as to
Herndon and Pangborn flight; assurance from the Ambassador
that he would urge his Government to allow the men to leave.
Memorandum by the Assistant Chief of the Division of Far
Eastern Affairs of a Conversation With the Japanese
Counselor of Embassy

Information that the Japanese Ambassador, after his con-
versation with the Under Secretary on August 27, sent a
further telegram to his Government requesting favorable action
on the issuance of the permit to Pangborn and Herndon to fly
from Japan.

From the Ambassador in Japan (tel.)

Information from the Communications Minister that it was
necessary to consult the Army and Navy in the Herndon-
Pangborn matter and that there were a number of legal points
involved but that he would make every effort for early action
and believed it would not take long.

From the American Ambassador in Japan to the Japanese
Minister for Foreign Affairs

Reference to earlier communications and discussions con-
cerning permission for Pangborn and Herndon to fly from
Japan, and further assurance that such permission would pro-
duce a favorable impression in the United States.

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
well as Herndon's mother, and considers early issuance of the
permit desirable. Instructions to present the further note ask-
ed by the Foreign Office requesting early issue of the permit.
From the American Ambassador in Japan to the Japanese
Minister for Foreign Affairs

Expression of hope for early issuance of the permit.
From the Ambassador in Japan (tel.)

Conversation with Herndon and Pangborn in which Am-
bassador requested them to make every effort to allay any
resentment against Japan incidental to their visit. In-
formation that the Foreign Office reply to the letter of Septem-
ber 14 asks delay until spring, but that the fliers request a
permit for immediate flight.

1051

1052

1052

1053

1053

1054

1054

1055

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Expression of warm congratulations on the success of the
Pangborn-Herndon flight.

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
Eastern Affairs

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
for Foreign Affairs

Inquiry whether the Japanese Government would be willing
to continue the arrangement of 1922 concerning ship load-line
certificates pending the coming into force of the international
load-line convention of July 5, 1930.

From the Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs to the American
Chargé in Japan

Request for assurances that American Charge's note of
February 13 may be interpreted to mean that, pending the
coming into force of the international load-line convention of
1930, the Japanese Government will continue the 1922 arrange-
ment and the U. S. Government will recognize as valid load-line
certificates issued by competent Japanese authorities and
organizations.

1059

1060

1061

Mar. 30 (59)

Aug. 25 (136)

Sept. 7 (97/C1)

From the American Ambassador in Japan to the Japanese
Minister for Foreign Affairs

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
Minister for Foreign Affairs

1061

Notification that the U. S. Government has confirmed the
assurances given in note No. 59 of March 30 and has accepted
the proposal of the Japanese Government to continue the
present arrangement pertaining to load lines; information
that the U. S. Government also has authorized, in particular
cases, the marking of load-lines and the issuance of certificates
therefor, on American vessels, by certain shipping bureaus,
which it is desired be recognized by Japanese authorities.

From the Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs to the American
Ambassador in Japan

Non-objection of the Japanese Government to the recogni-
tion of load-line certificates issued to American ships by ship-
ping bureaus in so far only as they are issued under authority
granted by the U. S. Government.

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.

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