893.20/682: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8:30 p.m.]
337. German military advisers left for Hong Kong at 9:00 this morning on special train provided by the Chinese Government.
It is understood that on July 2 a banquet was given in their honor by the Generalissimo and on July 4 by the Minister of War. The press reports today that the Chinese Government, appreciating the difficult position in which the advisers were placed, had voluntarily released them from their unexpired contracts.
A Chinese Government spokesman is quoted in the press today as follows:
“The German advisers are leaving with our assurance of high appreciation of their past service and also with our very best wishes.”
Repeated to Peiping.