793.94/13879: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 14—8:15 a.m.]
449. Hankow’s September 13, 7 p.m., offers a specific case where the responsible Chinese authorities are apparently prepared to refrain from defending a part of the river bank below Hankow which forms frontage of an American owned property whereon is stored the only oil supply available to American naval vessels remaining at Hankow to perform mission of protecting American lives provided we will guarantee that hostile Japanese forces will not use property to land troops in attack on Hankow. Attitude taken by Consul General in Consular Body [conversation with?] Hankow mayor seems only attitude we should take and yet Chinese willingness to refrain from erection of defense works on property mentioned provided we can prevent use by Japanese suggests possible basis for request to Japanese to refrain from using property in question. Otherwise property will be threatened with destruction. Of course it is quite possible that as in similar case at Kiukiang nothing will happen even in the absence of such an arrangement. I would like to have Department’s advice in instructing Hankow.
Sent to Hankow.