893.74/598: Telegram

The Minister in China (MacMurray) to the Secretary of State

352. My telegram number 349, August 25, 11 a.m.

1.
I have just received on credible authority the information that at a secret meeting with interested Cabinet Ministers, the Chief Executive yesterday adopted definitely the decision to cancel the Federal and Mitsui contracts as foreshadowed in my telegram 345, August 22, 4 p.m.
2.
With a view to forestalling action upon this decision which would confront us with an unalterable fait accompli it seems imperative that I should immediately address to the Minister for Foreign Affairs the note referred to in paragraphs 4 to 8 of my telegram of August 25, 11 a.m., without awaiting instructions from the Department. I am therefore sending this afternoon a note of the tenor suggested in that telegram.
3.
Copy by mail to Tokio for information.
MacMurray