Office of the Historian

793.94/8787: Telegram

The Ambassador in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State

Peiping, July 16, 1937—3 p.m.
[Received July 16—8:45 a.m.]

246. Tokyo’s 199, July 14, 5 p.m. to Washington. I agree thoroughly with analysis set forth in paragraph 5 of Grew’s telegram. There is every indication that the Japanese Government intends to deal with this North China question without reference to Nanking. Japanese Ambassador at present in Tientsin. Rumors now reaching us of discussions at Tientsin confirm me in the belief that it is present intention of Japanese to eliminate all Nanking influence here, substituting therefor a régime amenable to Japanese control. Statement made to Abend by the Japanese military command at Tientsin and telegraphed yesterday by Abend to New York Times supports this point of view.

Repeated to Tokyo and Nanking.

Johnson