793.94/4313: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 19—1:55 p.m.]
Captain Mayer together with British Military Attaché and representatives of French and Italian forces called on General Tsai Ting-kai to protest against Chinese artillery fire into Yangtzepoo and to request that he refrain from further fire in that direction. Tsai stated fire was in reply to Japanese artillery fire from Settlement area and that he would definitely refrain from such fire tonight and if assured by neutral observers and his own investigators that no Japanese artillery [Page 401] was in position in Settlement area he would never again fire there. He asked whether, if Japanese wished to use neutral defense areas or Soochow Creek in front of neutral defense areas as a position from which to attack Chinese, the neutral powers would prevent the Japanese. I have referred these questions to the commander in chief.