393.115/154: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in China (Johnson) at Hankow
53. Your 77, February 3, 3 p.m.,40 and Peiping’s 81, February 2, 7 p.m. Department requests that Peiping send a preliminary reply to the Japanese Embassy giving such information as is available in regard to the location of establishments maintained by American nationals within the area outlined in the Japanese Embassy’s note of January 31 and informing the Japanese Embassy that an effort is being made to obtain more detailed information which will be communicated in due course. Peiping may in its discretion point out that such information, insofar as the provinces of Kiangsu and Anhui are concerned, has already been supplied by the American Consul General at Shanghai to the Japanese naval authorities there (Shanghai’s 532, August 22, 11a, m.).40
Peiping should ask the consular offices concerned, including Tientsin, Tsingtao, Hankow and Shanghai, to prepare a list of American property located in the area outlined in the Japanese Embassy’s note of January 31. When this information has been received it should be made available to the Japanese Embassy.
Any communication to the Japanese Embassy containing information of the nature indicated should of course contain a safeguarding statement in the sense of the Department’s 7, January 7, 7 p.m.
[Page 580]In Peiping’s communication to the Japanese Embassy appropriate mention might be made of the circumstances mentioned in numbered paragraph 3 of Peiping’s telegram under reference.
Repeated to Peiping.