793.94/2069: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
750. Following from American Consul General at Nanking dated October 11, 12 noon, and October 11, 7 p.m.
“Questioned in regard to recent developments Soong said that no reply had been received from the Japanese Government to the notification of the appointment of Chinese representatives to take over charge of evacuated areas, after the bombardment of Chinchow. The Chinese Government, through the Chinese Minister in Tokyo, pressed for a reply but unsuccessfully. Finally a note was received from Japanese Government stating that to satisfy public opinion representatives should be announced by the two Governments to discuss matters in Manchuria. October 10th the Chinese Government inquired of the Japanese Government: (a) What sort of representatives should be appointed, (b) what the scope of the discussions should be, and (c) was it the intention of the Japanese Government that the [Page 170] discussions should be deferred until after military withdrawal had become completed. No reply has been received.
The Japanese note protesting against the boycott was presented by the Japanese Minister, October 11, 10 a.m. Soong said that popular criticism of the Chinese Government for its alleged weakness was growing stronger.
He reiterated that military measures by the Japanese in the Yangtze Valley would be resisted and he confirmed current reports that concentration of Chinese forces in the region north of the Yangtze is taking place to overcome the initial advantage the Japanese would have in regions near the coast and large rivers.
“Soong said he understood the policy of the American Government which was cooperation with the League in regard to the present crisis but he said that he thought that independent action by the American Government would be very desirable either on the basis of the Kellogg Pact or the Nine-Power Treaty. He inquired whether the American Government could not call another nine-power conference. I said I could only transmit his question to you.
Frank Lee has informed me that the Japanese Minister handed the memorandum of protest to him accompanied by an English translation and observed that no explanatory comments seemed necessary. Lee said the interview lasted only a few minutes. The Japanese Minister today sent me English translation of the memorandum almost exactly as published in the Shanghai Times, October 10th.”
- Telegram in two sections.↩