761.6211/175a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in China (Johnson)
165. Your 515, August 30, 9 a.m. We are sending you by radio a number of summarized statements96 from recent American newspaper editorials in regard to the Soviet-German non-aggression pact and its implications for the Far East.
We have received some indications of a possible wish on the part of certain European powers that they might be able to effect some kind of a rapprochement or agreement with the Japanese, perhaps also including this country, which might relieve them of certain of their anxieties in the Far East; but we have no indication of any definite steps or material developments in that direction which would seem to make warrantable the apprehensions which Chiang Kai-shek appears to entertain.
With reference to the second sentence under (b) of your numbered paragraph 3, I believe that you have been receiving in the radio bulletins and in the Department’s telegraphic instructions, transcripts or summaries of my recent statements on policy. I perceive no objection to your using, in conversations with Chinese officials, pertinent statements in the quoted portion of our 269, August 30, 7 p.m., to Tokyo,97 as an outline in general terms of our views but you will, of course, not mention that these were remarks which I made to the Japanese Ambassador. You may also say that there has been and will be no change in the fundamental and traditional foreign policy of the United States. [Page 225] You may inform Chiang that, in accordance with his request, his message has of course been conveyed to the President.
Sent to Chungking. Repeated to Peiping. Peiping repeat to Tokyo.
- Not reprinted.↩
- Vol. iv, p. 376.↩