793.94/11432: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 3—1:04 p.m.]
14. Mr. Tuan of Foreign Office called today under instructions from Minister of Foreign Affairs to inform me that the Chinese Government had accepted in principle an offer by the German Government of good offices in present Sino-Japanese matter. He referred to fact that China from beginning had been ready to accept good offices of third power and anxious to settle outstanding questions with Japan by peaceful means; that Nine Power Conference was itself in the nature of good offices; and that although the Nine Power Conference was legally still in existence it had adjourned and China had therefore accepted German offer. He expressed ignorance as to whether German Ambassador had been advised of Japanese terms. Other Missions also informed.
Repeated to Peiping, Nanking. Peiping please repeat to Tokyo.