793.94/2815: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 22—9:45 a.m.]
983. Minister Johnson reports from Nanking, November 22, 3 a.m., with reference to his telegram of November 20, 9 a.m., that he had just learned from his British and French colleagues of the French Minister’s instructions from Paris to dispatch observers to Manchuria to watch events at Chinchow and Tsitsihar. This was in response to T. V. Soong’s statement on sending neutral observers to Manchuria and because of the possibility of developments in the Chinchow area. The British Minister has been informed that he will receive similar instructions, but he is anticipating these by ordering the British Military Attaché to go at once to Chinchow to observe and to report back upon conditions and developments in that region. The French Minister informed Johnson that an approach is being made to Washington to send similar observers. It is Johnson’s desire, while awaiting such instructions, that the American Military Attaché at once proceed to Chinchow in order to report to him on the situation there, on the Chinese troops, if any, concentrating there, and on any developments which may arise. Johnson infers that a movement of Japanese troops may be expected from Mukden to Chinchow, and he wishes to have any such developments observed and reported upon.