Nelson T. Johnson

Nelson Trusler Johnson (April 3, 1887 – December 3, 1954) was an American diplomat who served as the US Minister to China from 1929 to mid-September 1935.

During the summer of 1907 while working at the Library of Congress he prepared for the general exam and studied German to meet the language requirements.

Johnson specialized in China and the rest of the Far East, He spent his first two years as a student interpreter during which time he engaged in an unorthodox language program in Peking where he learned to speak Chinese well.

Wishing to be united with his family he accepted a lesser post as minister to Australia during World War II (1941-1945).

[3][4] Johnson first became intimately involved in shaping American policy toward China in 1925 when he assumed the office of Chief of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs in the State Department.

He favored going as far as American interests would allow in helping China regain its sovereignty, and he consistently guided US Secretaries of State Kellogg and Stimson on a moderate course in their policy.

The treaty marked a milestone that symbolized Kellogg's and Johnson' quest to be China's friend and champion its sovereignty.

He grew increasingly impatient with Japanese aggression and began suggesting a reappraisal of American policy toward Japan.

While not yet recommending that the U.S. assume any responsibility for the Chinese, he still advocated rearmament and reconsideration of its intention to grant independence to the Philippines.

Johnson said that by fulfilling Chiang's request the U.S. would "move beyond "flimsy aid" and "callous and dangerous disregard" for China's precarious situation.

Also, with FDR's full support Secretary of War Stimson and Chief of Staff Marshall diverted 100 pursuit planes from British orders and made them available for use in China, i.e., defending the Burma road.