711.94/1387: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8:21 p.m.]
633. An American citizen (Mr. Laughlin, known to Mr. Atcheson28) engaged in teaching English to the local Japanese gendarmerie called at the Embassy yesterday and stated that the Japanese military here are very much interested in the approaching visit to Peiping of Ambassador-at-Large Kato. The informant said that the military have “permitted” Kato to come here in order primarily to see me and take up with me the following proposal which he stated had the approval of the Japanese military here: to endeavor to obtain an extension of the 1911 Treaty or to negotiate a new one; the informant said that, if an extension or a new treaty could be arranged, the military idea was that Japan would be willing to agree to the following: (a) to “modify their attitude towards Americans in China” to the extent that 450 of the 600 cases pending against Japan would be recognized, (b) to pay compensation in all cases when justified, and in other cases “apologies will be rendered and assurances will be given”, and (c) to offer special treatment to Americans and American interests in China.
I suspect that the informant was sent to the Embassy by the local Japanese military and the information given by him is accordingly transmitted for the information of the Department.
Repeated to Chungking. By air mail to Tokyo.
- George Atcheson, Jr., of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs.↩