121.54/1968: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Japan (Bell)
68. After conferring with the War Department, this Department has requested that Abbott47 and Davis be sent for the purpose of gathering the information described in our no. 66 of April 6, 6 p.m. They will act under the instructions contained in that telegram. [Page 742] It is not the wish of the Department to detail a consular officer for a mission of this kind.
Abbott and Davis should go to Vladivostok direct from Tokyo and from there to Chita. They should stay in the Far Eastern Republic only long enough to gather the desired information.
The Department does not wish to have this action attract undue attention. Informally and only for its information you may notify the Japanese Foreign Office.
Harbin, Vladivostok and Peking should be informed.
- James F. Abbott, commercial attaché at Tokyo.↩