893.102S/2451: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 6—2:55 p.m.]
Shanghai’s 388, March [April] 3, 6 p.m.94 and my April 4, 6 p.m. to Shanghai. A representative of the Foreign Office called this morning on [instruction] from the Foreign Minister and informed me that when Blackburn called on the Foreign Minister yesterday afternoon the latter was informed that the Japanese had refused to agree to the fixing of a definite period of 2 years since the ratepayers were unlikely to agree; and that when Blackburn asked if he was correct in interpreting the reply of the Chinese Government as implying that Chinese Government would acquiesce in the proposed arrangement for a maximum period of 2 years upon the expiring of which the question would again be raised, the Foreign Minister agreed to this.
Sent to Shanghai, repeated to Department and Peiping.
- Not printed.↩