793.94/6129: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 1—11:35 a.m.]
300. Following from American Consul General at Nanking:
“March 31, 10 p.m. Lo Wen-kan is confined to his house with serious eye trouble but I saw him this afternoon just after Wang Ching-wei called on him. I told Lo rumors were about that Wang and Chiang Kai-shek were willing to begin direct negotiations with the Japanese and Lo admitted that direct negotiation rumors were current everywhere but he insisted they were being spread by the Japanese. Without confirming reported willingness of Chiang and Wang to negotiate Lo said that while he was in Nanking they could do nothing in that direction and he denounced direct negotiations as unthinkable. Lo will consider nothing but stubborn and at least passive resistance but my strong impression is that Chiang and Wang feel that some positive action is required and that they are at a complete loss what step to take. It is impossible to predict course of events.”