893.515/1481: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 1—2:02 p.m.]
105. Following is Embassy’s translation of Foreign Office note dated February 28:
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs presents its compliments to the American Embassy and has the honor to observe that the strengthening of legal tender notes and stabilization of currency constitute an important policy during the course of armed resistance in pursuance of which the Chinese Ministry of Finance has repeatedly taken practical measures and to which the various friendly powers have rendered assistance. Armed resistance has now entered the third year and the Chinese Government naturally continues to push forward the strengthening of legal tender notes and stabilization of currency in accordance with the established policy. It is hoped that the diplomatic representatives of the various friendly powers, on the basis of their spirit of assistance as in the past, [will?] confidentially instruct the Consuls and banks of the respective nationalities in Shanghai to continue to help jointly in the matter. In the meantime, they shall strictly maintain their position and refuse to accept all kinds of bogus money and bogus notes, in order that legal tender notes may be further strengthened and the commercial interests of the various friendly powers may be safeguarded.
The Ministry has the honor to indite this third person note for the Embassy’s information and action, and to request the favor of a reply.”
Repeated to Peiping, Shanghai, Peiping mail reading to Tokyo.