793.94/3136: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in France (Shaw)
640. For Ambassador Dawes. Minister Johnson at Nanking on November 24, midnight, telegraphed the Department as follows:
[Here follows quotation of telegram printed on page 558.]
Minister Johnson at Nanking on December 8, 3 p.m., telegraphs as follows:
[Here follows extract of telegram printed on page 641 as far as sentence ending with “unless the Chinese troops are withdrawn.”]
I desire you to see Briand and to call to his attention the apparent discrepancy between the Koo project tentatively put forward for consideration and the contention which is apparently being made now by the Japanese that the Chinese promised to withdraw their forces from Chinchow, that in consequence of this the Japanese withdrew their own troops to east of the Liao River, and that if the Chinese fail now to evacuate Chinchow they will be guilty of a breach of faith. I feel Briand should find out the form and terms in which the tentative Koo project was communicated to Japan and if, as I assume, there is no warrant for the present contention of the Japanese that they were [Page 652] given to understand an outright offer was made by the Chinese, Briand should combat this contention strongly.