793.94/2888b: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Japan (Forbes)
241. My number 240, dated November 23, 7 p.m. In my message to Shidehara please add that my support of the Council proposal which contains the proposal of the Japanese for an impartial investigation is conditioned also upon the immediate withdrawal from Tsitsihar of the Japanese troops which, through Ambassador Debuchi, he assured me would take place. In that locality there are no Japanese nationals to be protected and throughout this country a most painful impression has already been created by the occupation of Tsitsihar and the heavy losses inflicted upon the Chinese defenders. In my opinion, failure to withdraw from Tsitsihar and any similar expedition to Chinchow would render quite futile any further efforts at conciliation between the two nations.