123J634/408: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in China (Johnson)
Washington, August 28,
1936—4 p.m.
209. Reference your telegram 413, August 24, noon,20 and mail despatch 565, July 6. In the light of 4th paragraph of your despatch under reference and final sentence of your telegram under reference, there arises doubt whether Department’s conception and yours regarding Peiping and Nanking establishments, and the question of Ambassador’s seat of residence in relation thereto, completely coincide.
Toward making Department’s conception absolutely clear to you:
- (a)
- As to policy: It is felt here that no change should be made for [Page 552] the present in our establishments in north China, both diplomatic and military. It has been and is assumed here that you will maintain residences in both Peiping and Nanking and that your periods of residence as between the two will be determined by considerations of policy and needs as situations develop. It is desired that such be regarded the procedure at present intended. It therefore is desired that your entry into residence in Nanking shall not be regarded as constituting or implying in any way an abandonment of your Peiping residence or an altering of the existing status of our establishments in Peiping.
- (b)
- As to action: In light of the above and communications that have preceded, Department feels that special pains should be taken by Embassy as is being done by the Department to avoid any implication and discourage any inference that your impending occupation of house in Nanking constitutes a change of the Ambassador’s seat of residence from Peiping to Nanking. It should be generally understood that your residing at Nanking for a portion of the year is simply for the purpose of facilitating the performance of your official functions and does not alter the character or location of our Embassy establishment. It seems desirable that nothing be said or done suggesting a distinction between or fixity of the periods of time which the Ambassador will spend in residence in either Peiping or Nanking, for instance, mention of “permanence” or a given number of months or a season in connection with either.
Hull
- Not printed.↩