Office of the Historian

793.94/10139: Telegram

The Ambassador in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State

Nanking, September 19, 1937—11 p.m.
[Received September 19—2:15 p.m.]

687. Warning of Japanese authorities is being communicated to American citizens in Nanking.46a Short time remaining before September 21, noon will not permit of measures to enforce safety of American Government quarter. While I am reluctant to face interruption to contact with Chinese Government and to abandon public and private property in the Embassy, I shall, unless otherwise instructed, [Page 342] endeavor to take refuge with my staff on the U.S.S. Luzon before the hour set. I request Department ascertain earliest date on which I may return to resume my duties which for the time being must obviously be largely discontinued.

Johnson
  1. See telegram No. 728, September 19, 1 p.m., from the Consul General at Shanghai, Foreign Relations, Japan, 1931–1941, p. 499.↩