893.515/1062: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in China ( Johnson )
121. Department’s 120, May 19. Treasury Department requests that the Embassy at Peiping and Nanking and the Consulates General at Shanghai, Tientsin, Hankow, Hong Kong and Canton submit by naval radio on May 23 reports not exceeding 100 words each covering the reaction in the areas indicated to (a) the measures of monetary reform recently announced by the Chinese Government and (b) the explanatory statements issued on May 18 by the Chinese Minister of Finance and the United States Treasury Department in regard to the measures under reference.
Please issue appropriate instructions and indicate that reports should be sent direct to this Department on the date indicated.34
- Reports from Consulates in China indicated in reply a generally favorable reaction at Chefoo, Hankow, Hong Kong, and Shanghai but a mixed reaction at Amoy, Canton, Foochow, Swatow, Tientsin, Tsinanfu, and Tsingtao. (893.515/1075, 1076, 1078, 1079, 1080, 1089, 1092.) On May 23 at Canton it was noted that “A few intelligent observers feel Sino-American agreement increases prospects of open Sino-Japanese hostilities.” (893.515/1080)↩