811.30 Asiatic Fleet/479: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 2—7 a.m.]
396. Department’s 225, August 1, 6 p.m.; and my 395, August 2, 11 a.m. Commanding officer of Monocacy is being instructed when calling again upon Japanese senior naval officer to insist that facility be placed at his disposal at an early date for making contact with American citizens in Kiukiang. Commander of Yangtze Patrol and I feel that he should not mention presence of mines as reason for not visiting Standard Oil installation as all concerned including Japanese senior naval officer know that only mines there would be floating ones, in other words only an excuse not believed in by either side for not visiting American property in question. Sooner or later Monocacy must visit installation to get supplies and coal stored there.
British gunboat and British merchant steamer with British nationals aboard are at present anchored close to Monocacy.
British equally denied access to shore and property. Commander of Yangtze Patrol is suggesting [to] commander that he place matter before senior Japanese naval officer at Nanking.
Repeated to Shanghai for repetition to Tokyo.