793.94/4711: Telegram

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

My March 11, 2 p.m. Following is Quo Tai-chi’s reply dated March 11th to the Japanese Minister’s letter.

“With reference to Mr. Shigemitsu’s letter to you of yesterday, March 10, a copy [of] which you were good enough to hand me this noon, I wish to state that the expression ‘complete withdrawal’ in our reply yesterday implies withdrawal of the Japanese forces and [which?] revert to the position prior to their advance on the night of January 28.”

In communicating a copy of the above to the Japanese Minister, Sir Miles [Page 576] said that he assumed Shigemitsu would let him know when he feels that the time has arrived for a meeting with the Chinese.

Johnson