393.1111 M Nielsen, Niels/41: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received July 21—5:30 a.m.]
613. Following is insert for penultimate paragraph of my 612. July 21, 3 p.m.
“The Japanese Consulate General has been instructed by Tokyo that if this office presses too vigorously it is to maintain position that Japanese authorities are merely intermediaries and that all responsibility [Page 727] rests with ‘Manchukuo’. Moreover, there is every reason to believe that Muto’s instructions will be of most general nature and that no appreciable increase of military effort in the case will result therefrom.
In the absence of a change in Tokyo’s attitude the prospect of Nielsen’s early release by military operations appears slight.”
2. Chase’s last paragraph has been referred to the Danish Minister who is being kept fully informed of developments. As previously reported ransom negotiations are to be left to Danish Mission without official assistance of American authorities other than in obtaining unofficial assistance of the Japanese and local authorities to the Mission’s negotiators.