393.1111 M Nielsen, Niels/69: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in China (Johnson)
342. Your 796, October 11, 1 p.m. Please repeat following message to Tokyo: [Page 731]
“95. Reference Department’s 56, June 9, 6 p.m., your 115, June 10, 8 p.m. and Mukden’s despatch of October 6, to Peiping,42 in regard to Nielsen.
Unless you perceive objection, please express to appropriate Japanese authorities the American Government’s appreciation of assistance already rendered in connection with efforts to obtain the release of Nielsen and regret that one of the Japanese negotiators has unfortunately been captured by the bandits, and state that the American Government views with serious concern recent reports which indicate that negotiations for Nielsen’s release have failed. You should add that American consular officers in Manchuria are keeping in close touch with the authorities there and should state parenthetically that you understand that, in effecting the release recently of three British officers captured by bandits, the Manchukuo authorities contributed a part if not all of the ransom paid to obtain their release. You should then express the hope that the Japanese Government will continue its efforts to assist in bringing about a safe and prompt release of Nielsen.”
- Despatch not printed.↩