793.94/9936: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 6—1 p.m.]
612. Department’s 205, September 1, 4 [9] p.m.,2 and 214, September 4, 4 p.m.3 I went to see Minister of Foreign Affairs and informed him of action taken at Tokyo. Minister of Foreign Affairs assured me that Chinese had no desire to start hostilities at Tsingtao. When pressed to say whether Chinese national troops would not move into Tsingtao he asked to be allowed to check up and telephone me next day. On Saturday the Foreign Office when pressed stated that Chinese had no intention of starting hostilities at Tsingtao but that if attacked or if Japanese should attempt to land troops near Tsingtao Chinese Government could not be held responsible for the peace and safety of Tsingtao. It seems to me that no further good purpose is to be served by representations here. I still feel sure the safety of Tsingtao is dependent upon what the Japanese and Chinese may consider it necessary to do in that neighborhood from a military point of [Page 309] view and that we do not know and cannot find out what those necessities are or may be, and that Americans should not be encouraged to stay in that place.
Sent to the Department. Repeated to Tsingtao, Peiping and Shanghai for communication to Commander-in-Chief.
- Vol. iii, p. 505.↩
- Not printed.↩