 Tatekawa was sent with a letter from Minami to the commander of the Kwantung Army, Lieutenant General Shigeru Honjō, together with a second letter written by General Kanaya Hanzo, head of the Army General Staff.The Kwantung Army was forewarned of this visit by a message from Tatekawa's assistant, Colonel Kingoro Hashimoto.On arrival, instead of reprimanding the Kwantung Army leaders for their insubordination, Tatekawa said that everything could wait "until tomorrow" and spent his time in a "ryōtei" until he passed out from drink.