Office of the Historian

893.00/14023: Telegram

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

Nanking, February 27, 1937—10 a.m.
[Received February 27—8 a.m.]

96. My 87 of February 23, 2 p.m., paragraph 10 and 88 of February 24, 11 a.m.35

The director of the Department of Publicity of the Foreign Office has stated that it has practically been decided that C. T. Wang36 will be the next Minister for Foreign Affairs. In this connection it is interesting to note that General Lepin, Soviet Military Attaché, during a recent call on me expressed the opinion that the Chinese Government has reorientated its foreign policy which will henceforth be characterized by stronger resistance to Japanese encroachment and an endeavor to create closer relations with Great Britain, the United States, and the Soviet Union. It seems too early however to form a definite opinion in regard to this theory.

Sent to the Department, to Peiping by courier.

Johnson
  1. Latter not printed.↩
  2. A former Minister for Foreign Affairs.↩