893.51/5307: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
515. Department’s 212, Legation’s 509, June 27, 3 p.m.
- 1.
- I am of the opinion that both as a matter of principle and on the merits of the case we are not justified in making a protest to Marshal Yen and at the meeting of the Diplomatic Body on June 24th I indicated my personal view in this regard. See my telegram 494, June 24, 5 p.m. Consensus of opinion favored addressing protests to both parties. In view of the comparatively innocuous character of the draft note to be addressed to Yen and from a desire to obtain early joint action in a protest to Nanking, I recommended that the Legation be authorized to concur in the despatch of both notes, and I feel that it is preferable to follow this course rather than to reopen the whole [Page 263] question with the possibility of various courses being adopted by the several powers.
- 2.
- [Paraphrase.] The British Minister, whom I have consulted, states that he has not been enthusiastic at all about the protest to Marshal Yen, but that he deemed it advisable to concur in order to meet the wishes of the Japanese. The Japanese Government’s proposal he regarded as peculiar, although he had no evidence of any prearrangement with the Chinese Government. The Minister informed me of compromise efforts. (See description in Legation’s No. 512, June 28, 2 p.m.) [End paraphrase.]
For the Minister:
Perkins
- Telegram in two sections.↩