793.94/2037: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 11—4:25 a.m.]
740. Following received en clair from Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nanking., dated October 9th: [Page 155]
“His Excellency, Nelson Trusler
Johnson,
American Minister, Peiping.
While the Chinese Government is making every exertion to fulfill its undertakings given in its reply to the recent note of the American Government and to the communication from the President of the Council of the League of Nations to protect the Japanese residents and do nothing to aggravate the present situation pending its solution before the Council of the League of Nations, the Japanese militarists committed yesterday another act of war by the bombardment by 12 military airplanes of Chinchow, outside the so-called South Manchuria Railway zone, where the Provincial Government had been transferred after the occupation of Shenyang. The attack resulted in many casualties including one foreign professor as well as considerable damage to property and particularly to the University building lodging the temporary provincial headquarters.
As Chinchow is strongly held by the Chinese garrison the situation has become exceedingly grave. The Chinese Government has telegraphed to Geneva asking the Council of the League of Nations to take urgent measures for the conservation of peace and inviting an immediate visit to Chinchow from the League’s missions for investigation and report on them for the Council’s meeting on October 14 or earlier should the Council so decide. The Chinese Government will be grateful if the American Government should delegate a person or persons to participate in the work of the League’s mission and if this request could be treated as one [of] extreme urgency in view of the seriousness of the situation, which the Chinese Government does not wish to disguise. The Chinese Government reposes entire confidence in the support of the American Government, (signed) Chinglun Frank Lee, Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs.”