893.00/13597: Telegram
The Ambassador in China ( Johnson ) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 7—2:25 p.m.]
343. The following telegram has been received from the Consul at Tsinanfu.
“July 6, 5 p.m. I am confidentially informed by an unquestionably reliable source that Han Fu Chu55 is sending an important representative by tonight’s express to interview Chiang Kai Shek in Nanking before July 10th. The representative will take a letter and most urgent oral entreaty from Han begging Chiang to refrain from armed conflict with the Southwest at all costs no matter how great the provocation, and warning Chiang that Han has no other alternative than to resign if Chiang wastes the national strength in a civil war at this juncture when every bit of Chiang’s strength and undivided attention is needed to provide the support requisite for Han to resist Japanese pressure to force Han to join Sung Che Yuan in the establishment of an independent organ for the preservation of peace and neutrality, to protect their respective territories and people. Han will resign rather than submit to the humiliations Sung has experienced.”
- Chairman, Shantung Provincial Government.↩