893.0146/520: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in China (Johnson)
Washington, October
14, 1936—1 p.m.
243. Embassy’s 475, October 2, 1 p.m.
- 1.
- Department assumes that your instruction to Shanghai, summarized in the telegram under reference, does not contemplate that Gauss shall make definitive reply to the letter of September 1 addressed to him by the Chairman of the Municipal Council pending the receipt by the Embassy of an expression of the Department’s views. It is suggested that Gauss, unless he has already done so, merely acknowledge the receipt of the Chairman’s letter and state that the subject matter is receiving consideration by the appropriate agencies of the American Government. The Department assumes also that the matter is not so urgent as to require immediate consideration, and accordingly the Department, while it concurs in general with the views expressed in your telegram under reference and in Gauss’ despatch, will await, before reaching a definite conclusion, receipt of a copy of the full text of the instruction to Gauss which you are sending by pouch.92
- 2.
- Should you or Gauss receive any indication of the attitude of the British Government or of the character of the reply which the British Consul General at Shanghai may make or makes to the letter under discussion, please report promptly and fully thereon to the Department by cable.
- 3.
- Repeat to Nanking for the Ambassador.
Hull
- Not printed.↩