Office of the Historian

793.94/6274: Telegram

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

Peiping, May 12, 1933—10 p.m.
[Received May 12—1:50 p.m.]

429. Mr. Y. C. T. Shen, Director of the Asiatic Bureau of the Foreign Office, came to see me today. He described his call as personal but intimated that Vice Minister Liu knew of his coming and what he had to say. He asked whether I had considered any action in view of appearance of Japanese aeroplane over Peiping, I stated that I had not nor knew of any ground for taking any action. In the course of somewhat lengthy conversation he stated that there were leaders in the Government who had believed that the Japanese would refrain from penetrating into Peiping-Tientsin area in order to avoid international complications and now that it appeared that the Japanese were in fact to invade this area they were disposed to count upon some action on the part of the powers, particularly the United States and Great Britain. He interposed that he himself did not share this view but he thought that if it was clear to those leaders that no action would be taken by the powers, knowledge of this might result in some change in the Government’s policy.

I recalled to Shen the policy which the Government of the United States had followed, through statements of policy made at home and in supporting action thus far taken at Geneva. I stated that my feeling of friendship for China demanded that I tell him most frankly that Chinese leaders should not expect the United States to go beyond what had already been said or done by those responsible [Page 319] for the policy of the United States; that while we were watching developments with undivided interest I was sure that the United States did not wish to become physically involved in this situation. I stated that as American Minister I intended to remain here as long as the situation was tense but that should the Chinese Government authorities, military or civil, be driven from Peiping it would then be necessary for me to follow the Chinese Government to which I was accredited.

By mail to Tokyo.

Johnson