693.116/75: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 18—2:15 a.m.]
692. Legation’s 686, August 15, 2 p.m. Following from Consul General Canton to the Legation and Nanking:
“August 17, 5 p.m. Nanking’s August 12, 11 a.m. Foreign Office representative informed me today that he received telegraphic instructions from Nanking on the 12th to request local government to hold oil regulations in abeyance pending a decision on question of treaty obligations. He said he wrote immediately to all the agencies concerned but still, he stated, too late to get the matter on the agenda for today’s meeting of the Political Council, although he hopes that it will be up for general discussion on the 22nd.
British Consul General has received another instruction from his Minister under directions from the Foreign Office to seek again an interview with the Chairman and the Marshal and to emphasize the gravity with which the British Government regards the situation. He has been unable to obtain interview with either of them but has read to the Chairman’s secretary a memorandum which he proposes to deliver in person and to supplement with verbal representations. He goes to Hong Kong tomorrow to confer with the Governor on this subject.”