793.94/9627: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State54
[Received August 23—6:50 a.m.]
497. Tsingtao’s August 21, 10 a.m. and Commander in Chief’s August 21, 7 [7:05?] p.m. concerning Tsingtao.
1. At meeting of five interested Ambassadors this morning we decided to send following collective letter to the Minister for Foreign Affairs:
“Dear Mr. Minister: Information received from apparently reliable sources is to the effect that the Chinese and the Japanese Government authorities in Tsingtao are endeavoring to solve present differences [Page 459] between them in such a way as to avoid an outbreak of hostilities at that port.
There are in Tsingtao many hundreds, if not some thousands, of nationals of countries not concerned in the controversy between China and Japan and the undersigned Ambassadors earnestly request that the Chinese Government promote in all possible ways arrangements whereby there may be assurance that fighting may be avoided in Tsingtao and in its vicinity between the military forces of China and Japan. An early indication of the view taken by the Chinese Government toward this idea will be heartily welcomed by the undersigned Ambassadors.”
2. My German, British, French, and Italian colleagues asked that I transmit the contents of the collective letter to the American Ambassador in Tokyo and ask him to communicate them to the respective Embassies, it being our hope that they will all urge the Japanese authorities to take energetic measures in Tsingtao to avoid opening of hostilities.
3. Because of delay in telegraphic communication with Tokyo, I request that the Department cable this request to Grew.
4. Naval report to the Commander-in-Chief dated August 23 states that the tension at Tsingtao is at such high pitch only a slight spark would be necessary to start serious trouble.
Sent to the Department, Shanghai.
- The Department repeated this telegram to the Ambassador in Japan for communication to his British, French, German and Italian colleagues.↩