793.94/11922: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received 2:57 p.m.]
128. My 119, December 29, 3 p.m. Donald’s information is that Chinese Ambassador at Washington has informed Generalissimo that President thought Japanese terms very lenient. Donald states that it is his understanding that Japanese terms have been communicated to Chinese Diplomatic Missions abroad for publication abroad; Japanese terms have not been published here, although Donald says that Mrs. Chiang and Kung had advocated publication. Donald expressed personal opinion that non-publication here have fulfilled a hope that certain quarters, unnamed, may be attempting to make a deal with Japanese. Only information Embassy has regarding terms was communicated in my 116, December 28, 9 p.m.64
On January 4, 1938, President Roosevelt sent a memorandum to the Secretary of State as follows:
“In view of Ambassador Johnson’s 119 [128], December 31, I think you should tell the Chinese Ambassador here that the President has never given any indications that he thinks the Japanese terms ‘very lenient’. So far as an independent Chinese Republic goes Japanese terms which we have seen are utterly impossible.”
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