793.94 Commission/653: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 14—6:12 a.m.]
I saw General Chiang Kai-shek yesterday evening. T. V. Soong and Lo Wen-kan were present. Chiang asked American attitude toward invitation to participate deliberations Committee of Nineteen. I informed him that I had no official instructions on this matter but that I inferred that United States would give serious consideration to any invitation of this kind that might be extended and that its attitude would be determined by the question as to how closely the terms of reference were compatible with well-established policy of the United States as set forth in statements made by the Secretary of State. I said that Washington viewed question as the peculiar responsibility of the League and did not desire to say or do anything which might retard [Page 420] action by the League in fulfillment of that responsibility or encourage League to shift responsibility to others.
From statement made by Lo to General Chiang in my presence I understood British Chargé called upon him yesterday to persuade China to be more friendly to British suggestions for conciliation and that Lo told British Chargé that Chinese acceptance of British proposal could only be based upon principles announced by Chinese delegate at Geneva.