793.94/9354: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 14—3 a.m.]
426. Your [Shanghai’s] 468, August 13, 4 p.m. See my 423, August 12 [13], 6 [8] p.m. to the Department. I emphasized to Generalissimo in as strong terms as I could the necessity for protection foreign life in area south of Soochow Creek. His message, repeated to you last night in my August 13, 11 p.m., is, I believe, confirmatory evidence that Chinese military will not interfere with area patrolled by international defense force where foreigners have been collected, provided, of course, that area in question is not used as a base for attack on Chinese forces outside. Neutral forces policing and patrolling area should exclude fighting forces of both sides and I have no doubt that neutrality of area will be respected.