793.94/3411: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 6—9:20 a.m.]
16. Consul General, Nanking, reports informal conversation yesterday with Eugene Chen, new Minister of Foreign Affairs, in the course [Page 4] of which Chen made guarded statement that Premier Inukai had approached him unofficially on the subject of opening discussions regarding Manchuria. Chen referred to his conversations with the General Staff in Japan last summer and believes that Inukai is on footing of closer understanding with Japanese General Staff than his predecessor. He criticized bitterly Japanese action in Manchuria stating that a government unable to control its army was a menace to civilized world. He insisted that Chinese withdrawal from Chinchow had been against the orders of the Government but admitted that military action by China was now useless. He intimated that he was seeking some dignified way of opening discussions with Japan but while he expressed optimism regarding outcome of Manchurian situation he gave impression of being rather at a loss as to measures to take. In conclusion he expressed the hope that powers and especially United States would lend China friendly assistance.