811.30 Asiatic Fleet/478: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 2—7 a.m.]
395. My 391, August 1, 10 a.m. Commanding officer of Monocacy reported to Admiral Le Breton on August 1 as follows:
“Informed senior naval officer per your instructions, letter was read in officer’s presence. Japanese very cordially volunteered information that senior naval officer desired cooperate but acting under orders Nanking which understand originate from Army and that matter would now be placed hands higher authority Nanking deal with our similar people. Japanese asked if Monocacy had intended going down stream soon. Informed them you intend sending ship Shanghai. They regarded this reasonable. Inquired if they used channel, answer negative but expected have same swept 2 days.”
Repeated to Shanghai. Shanghai please repeat to Tokyo.