793.94/7900: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 14—6:35 a.m.]
241. Embassy’s 240, May 13, 1 p.m.77 First Secretary of Japanese Embassy called on me this morning under telegraphic instructions to inform me confidentially of the approaching increase of strength of the North China Garrison. He stated that the increase will be the minimum needed to cope with the new situation which he described as Communism in Shansi, underground anti-Japanese activities in Hopei, and increase in number of Japanese residents in eastern Hopei and along the Peiping-Shanhaikwan Railway; that the increase is based on treaty rights; that the purpose of the increase was to maintain [Page 151] peace in this area for the good of China and Japan and other foreign powers; that it was not for the purpose of bringing pressure on China, encroaching upon Chinese sovereignty or upon interests of other powers; that some of the new troops would arrive tomorrow; that he did not know the percentage of increase.
Repeated to Nanking, by mail to Tokyo.
- Not printed.↩