893.00/10926: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 24—10:10 a.m.]
490. Legation’s 468, June 19, 2 p.m.45 Following from American Consul at Tsinanfu:
“June 23, 6 p.m. Han has just informed the Consuls that he will withdraw from Tsinanfu within the next 3 or 4 days east along [Page 137] the Kiaochow Railway since the fall of Changching is imminent. We again expressed the hope that there will be no fighting here and that the local police will be left with arms and ammunition. He promised the latter but said he did not know whether the Shansi forces would permit him to withdraw unmolested or fight a rear-guard action with him to the suburbs of Tsinanfu. Han apparently has no understanding with the other side regarding withdrawal. Would it be possible to request Shansi military authorities to enter Tsinanfu only after the departure of Han’s troops. Nearly all Americans have now left here.”
- Not printed.↩