793.94/7009
The Secretary of the Navy ( Swanson ) to the Secretary of State
Sir: For your information, I am pleased to quote the following dispatch received by priority radio from the Commander-in-Chief of the Asiatic Fleet: [Page 218]
“Received following information, ‘Shino Secretary at the Shanghai Embassy of Japan tells me Japanese Army leaders in Tokyo will today ask permission direct from the Japanese Emperor to exercise a free hand in Northern China. This will mean decisive action if granted.’ Above quoted information from Harris the AP China correspondent Have no details of contemplated action”.
The dispatch quoted was received in code.
Respectfully,