793.94/6984: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 30—1:30 p.m.]
228. Legation’s 227, May 30, 2 p.m. From an authoritative source it was learned this afternoon that the Japanese representations were in the nature of a severe warning or a threat and that Ho Ying-chin requested that the Japanese observations be reduced to writing so that they might be referred to Nanking; this has now been done by means of an aide-mémoire. Chinese official circles are greatly disturbed. There is the possibility that Huang Fu may return to Peiping in which event Yu Hsueh-chung’s position will become even less tenable than at present. There is reason to believe that the solution of the difficulty will rest largely on the course taken by Yu Hsueh-chung and that if satisfactory assurances of an amelioration of the situation are not forthcoming démarche will be made or other drastic steps taken.
Repeated Nanking; by mail to Tientsin and Tokyo.