Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1941, The Far East, Volume V

893.102S/2446: Telegram

The Ambassador in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State

Chungking, April 4, 1941—6 p.m.
[Received April 4—2:20 p.m.]

My April 3 [2], 9 a.m. to Shanghai⁹³ and previous in regard to International Settlement Shanghai.

1. I called on the Foreign Minister this afternoon at 4 o’clock at his request. He then said to me that having given careful consideration to the proposed arrangement for the government of the International Settlement of Shanghai, the Chinese Government felt compelled to point out that it views with disfavor any extension of Japanese influence or any reduction of Chinese representation with regard to the Settlement. Nevertheless, having in mind the difficult situation with which the American and British authorities are presently confronted at Shanghai he went on to say the Chinese Government has decided to acquiesce in the proposed arrangement on condition (1) that 4 Chinese members shall be chosen from among the 5 Chinese councilors now in office; and, (2) that such arrangement shall remain operative for a period not exceeding 2 years. I thanked Dr. Wang and said that I would communicate his reply to the American authorities.

2. The Foreign Minister said that he was seeing Blackburn immediately after my departure this afternoon in order to communicate to the latter the decision of the Chinese Government which he had just communicated to me.

Sent to Shanghai. Repeated to Department, Peiping.

Johnson

93. Not printed.