493.11/1698: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 5—1:54 a.m.]
307. My 305, April 4, 3 p.m.48 The following telegram has been received from Nanking:
“April 4, 9 p.m. Soong asks me to telegraph you that the communist situation is extremely serious, three divisions of Government troops having been defeated south of Nanchang within last few days. The supposedly crack Eleventh Division lost one-third, the Fifty-second and one other practically destroyed. Chiang left for Nanchang this morning. Soong states this new disaster greatly aggravates the Government’s grave financial position and the need for postponement of the indemnity payments. He hopes that you will treat this as far more than an ordinary situation. He expressed anxiety for your reply.”
- Not printed.↩