793.94 Commission/562: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 26—6:05 a.m.]
Soong called myself, French Minister, British Chargé and Italian Minister to his house at 11:30 this morning and said that Government was embarrassed by reports emanating from Japanese sources in Geneva to the effect that direct negotiations were proceeding between China and Japan for the settlement of Manchuria question. He asked us to inform our Governments that the Chinese have referred the question to the League of Nations and expected to leave it there; China looked to the League for a settlement; the League had sent a commission to investigate; the question was squarely up to the League and China hoped that a solution would be found there. He said that if all this fails the outlook was dark, as undeclared war would continue resulting soon afterwards in chaos throughout China. He said what chance was there of success by direct negotiations when Japan does not yield to the public opinion of the world.