Office of the Historian

793.94/2921: Telegram

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

[Paraphrase]
Nanking, November 27, 1931—4 p.m.
[Received November 27—10:05 a.m.]

Your 121, November 25, 5 p.m., to the Consul General at Nanking.

(1)
The facts therein I communicated orally this morning to Dr. Wellington Koo. He thanked me for the information.
(2)
He reverted to his statement about China’s being obliged to insist upon a time limit for Japanese evacuation of troops in Manchuria, and he said the Government could not accept less than this, since Chinese public opinion was stirred up on the subject to such an extent that no Government could survive if it agreed to less,
(3)
The British Minister informed me confidentially today that Koo in a conversation with him yesterday had suggested, while discussing the question of the necessity for an evacuation time limit, that a possible formula which might be used to save the situation would be as follows:
(a)
A fixed period, of course as brief as possible but open to discussion.
(b)
The inquiry commission to be left to decide on the adequacy of measures to protect life and property in Manchuria. Should the commission decide the measures were not adequate, it could recommend other steps, meaning the postponement of evacuation.
(4)
In my opinion, from the viewpoint of China this question is a very serious one, for the Government’s very existence depends, I am convinced, upon something definite being done regarding the period for Japanese troops to remain in occupied Manchurian territory.
(5)
As to Chinchow, Koo informed me that his Government appreciated your friendly suggestion but felt, in view of the Japanese attitude, that Chinchow could not be abandoned without some guarantee that this area would not be occupied by the Japanese. He said the Chinese troops at Chinchow now were under orders to avoid any activities of a provocative nature, but they would resist if attacked.
Johnson