Foreign Relations of the United States, Diplomatic Papers, 1938, The Far East, Volume III

793.94/13957

The Ambassador in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State

No. 64

Hankow, July 29, 1938.
[Received September 26.]

Sir: I have the honor to transmit, as of possible interest to the Department, a copy of a memorandum³² prepared by Captain Frank Dorn, Assistant Naval [Military] Attaché to this Embassy, which incorporates a report prepared by Dr. H. Talbot, a British doctor, on the subject of his investigation at Nanchang, Kiangsi, of a number of suspected gas cases occurring among Chinese troops who participated in the hostilities at Ma Tang on the Yangtze River between Anking and Kiukiang. Captain Dorn and an American missionary accompanied Dr. Talbot on his tour of investigation.

The Embassy is of the opinion that Dr. Talbot’s report of his diagnosis of the cases examined³³ can be accepted without question. Dr. Talbot’s report, as quoted in Captain Dorn’s memorandum, was released for publication by the Central News Agency, the Chinese official news agency, on July 19, 1938.

Respectfully yours,

Nelson Trusler Johnson

32. Not printed.
33. Dr. Talbot concluded that the cases “were all caused by gas poisoning, of the Mustard Gas type.” Capt. Dorn suggested that some of the cases might have been caused by Chlorine Gas.