893.01/702: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received 3 p.m.]
158. Department’s 45, March 28, 6 p.m. I had a conversation day before yesterday with French Ambassador, who left yesterday for fortnight’s stay in Hanoi, in the course of which he stated that he has received instructions to follow policy of British and American Governments in matters relating to proposed Wang Ching Wei regime. He asked what our policy was and I stated that we would doubtless follow same policy which we had pursued in respect to Manchukuo, that we would through Consulates look to local authorities in matters of purely local character and that generally we would continue as in past to look to and hold Japanese Government ultimately responsible in all questions of protection of interests and injury to our interests. He is [Page 306] much worried as to possible efforts of new regime, aided by Japanese, to create difficulties in French Concessions, remarking that French Government stood alone in these Concessions as responsible for law and order. French Ambassador is delaying return to Shanghai at this time because he does not want to afford opportunity for comment and possible connection of his return with proposed inauguration of new regime.
Repeated to Peiping, Shanghai.