793.94/10480: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 7—10:45 a.m.]
767. Last evening in conversation with Minister of Foreign Affairs and with Wong Wen Hao, head of the Department of Heavy Industries of Military Affairs Commission, I advanced theory that Japanese might stop advance at Yellow River in north and after driving Chinese forces from around Shanghai thereafter consolidate positions with a view to making attack upon or meeting threat from Soviet Russia. Both accepted idea. I found no inclination in them toward peace but acceptance of idea that if driven close to Nanking Government would move up river. They appeared confident that Japanese would find difficulty in fighting way through defense lines between here and Shanghai.
Repeated to Peiping and to Shanghai for repetition to Tokyo.