793.94/4026: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 6—11:56 p.m.]
204. Following from the Minister at Nanking:
“February 5, 9 p.m. Nanking is quiet at present. General Ho, the Minister of War, told me today that through friends he had arrangement with the Japanese naval units here that neither side should threaten the other. He stated that Chinese troops had been withdrawn 5 miles inland from Pukow. American citizens who are neighbors of the General nevertheless assure me that he is constructing a concrete refuge in his own premises. Chinese airplanes arrived in Shanghai this morning to assist the Army and they have reported a successful encounter with Japanese planes in which the Japanese lost two planes. I have been told that the Chinese planes carried no bombs.
My British colleague arrives on Saturday morning and he and I and our French colleague and the German Counselor will meet daily at 11:30 a.m., to exchange information.
The Consulate General, with my approval, is advising that American women and children leave Nanking in view of the fact that a possible extension of the present military activities would make it difficult to evacuate should there be an attack.”