File No. 4857/8–10.
The Acting Secretary of
State to Minister Rockhill.
Department of State,
Washington,July
1907.
No. 323.]
Sir: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your
dispatch No. 610, of May 13 last, inclosing a copy in translation of a
note received by you from the Wai-wu Pu, concerning the importation of
arms and ammunition into China.
As pertinent thereto, I inclose herewith a copy of recent correspondence
with the Treasury Department regarding the exportation of firearms from
this country to China.
I am, etc.,
[Inclosure 1.]
The Secretary of
State to the Secretary of the
Treasury.
Department of State,
Washington,June 6,
1907.
Sir: The Chinese Government informs the
department that there are indications of heavy importations of arms
into China from the United States in violation of Chinese law, and
that Government asks for such assistance as we can properly give in
enabling it to detect and prevent such illegal importations.
This department will be obliged to the Treasury Department if it will
obtain from the customs officers of American ports information of
any shipments that take place of arms for China or for ports whence
they might readily be smuggled into China, and will advise the
department, in order that the information may be communicated to the
Chinese minister.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 2.]
The Acting Secretary of the
Treasury to the Secretary of
State.
Treasury Department,
Washington,June 8,
1907.
Sir: In reply to your letter of the 6th
instant, I have the honor to state that the proper customs officers
have this day been instructed to report immediately to this
department all shipments of arms to China and adjacent
countries.
Respectfully,
