793.94/13203: Telegram
The Ambassador in China ( Johnson ) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 12—8:15 a.m.]
284. Shanghai’s 812, June 11, noon99 and 813, June 11, 1 p.m.1 Admiral Yarnell and Admiral Le Breton2 have been furnished copies of these two notes. I shall make no reply until I receive Admiral Yarnell’s reactions in this matter. By way of comment I may add that American naval vessels are already distinguished from Chinese vessels by deck painted white with buff upper works and therefore easily distinguishable. Furthermore, as demonstrated in the case of the Panay, one place on the river is no safer than another if Japanese do not intend to respect interests of third nationals. Positions of American naval vessels have from time to time been and will continue to be notified to Japanese so that they can easily be put on notice as to where they are and where their duties require them to be.
Repeated to Shanghai and Peiping; Shanghai please repeat to Tokyo.
- Foreign Relations, Japan, 1931–1941, vol. i, p. 597.↩
- Ibid., p. 598.↩
- Rear Adm. David McDougal Le Breton, U. S. N., Commander, United States Yangtze Patrol.↩