393.1111 M Nielsen, Niels/63: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 16—11:30 a.m.]
751. Department’s 316, September 14, 2 p.m. Following from American Consul General at Mukden:
“September 16, noon. The Japanese reported on September 7th that negotiations with the bandits had been suspended for the time being because of their exorbitant demands and that the gendarme negotiator returned to Mukden on September 5th. However, Mrs. Nielsen recently reported that the local authorities have been asked by the bandits to send a representative to discuss terms and that steps are being taken to open negotiations at an early date. According to which the making of any representations at this time seems inadvisable.”
I concur in the views of the Consul General who in his despatch of September 4th transmitted encouraging report from captive as to probability of early release.