793.94/7373: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received 9:15 a.m.]
77. Suma came to see me last evening. He expressed himself as very pessimistic about the situation in China especially in regard to Sino-Japanese relations. He referred to recent Shanghai incidents as being part of a considered plan to annoy the Japanese. He stated that Sino-Japanese diplomatic discussions were at standstill, saying that Hirota had had a discussion with Chiang Tso-pin in Tokyo regarding fundamental principles of Sino-Japanese relations but that Chinese in effect were refusing to see Ariyoshi as they had requested him to postpone his visit to Nanking. He spoke of his belief in an agreement between Canton and Nanking to eliminate Wang Chingwei from the Government in consideration of Canton’s participation in party affairs and referred to recent arrival of Canton delegates and stated that all this indicated a probable stiffening of Chinese attitude toward Japan.
To Tokyo by mail, repeated to Peiping.