793.94/1999: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 7—9:16 a.m.]
719. Following from American Consul General at Nanking:
“October 6, 7 p.m. I am informed that a telephone message from Shanghai states that the Japanese Government has sent a peremptory demand to the Chinese Government that the boycott be stopped; that otherwise the Japanese Government will adopt forcible measures. Rumor that Japan will land armed forces tonight in Chapei, Shanghai. I have been informed during the last few days that the Chinese Government would be obliged to regard such a landing as an act of war. I have been informed recently also that if any military measures are taken at Nanking by the Japanese the Chinese will retaliate. One Japanese cruiser here now. The Consulate General has in readiness tentative plans for the evacuation of American citizens on to the destroyer but no warning has been issued as conditions do not yet seem threatening.[”]
The Legation has received no alarming reports from other sources except anti-Japanese agitations in Yunnan referred to in my 715, October 7, 9 a.m.1 Reuter reports from Tokyo, October 6th, speak of Japanese taking “Chinese Government severely to task for its negligence in failing to check anti-Japanese boycott” and of despatching cruiser Tokiwa to Shanghai with bluejackets for protective purposes. Also that all Japanese living in districts along the Yangtze have been ordered to withdraw to Hankow and Shanghai.
- Not printed.↩