File No. 406/69–71.

The Acting Secretary of State to Chargé Rives.

No. 139.]

Sir: Agreements by the United States with Great Britain, Germany, Italy, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Russia, and Denmark for the reciprocal protection of trade-marks in China have been effected by exchange of notes between the American minister at Peking and that of the diplomatic representatives at that capital of the governments mentioned. A copy of the agreement with France is herewith inclosed as a sample.

It appears from a dispatch recently received from our minister, Mr. Rockhill, that on June 10 last he made an overture to the Austro-Hungarian minister at Peking for an exchange of notes by which the reciprocal protection of duly registered trade-marks of either country would be protected against infringement by the citizens or subjects of the other in China.

To this note the Austro-Hungarian minister replied on the following day that he was without the necessary instructions enabling him to effect the desired arrangement, but that he had requested them of his Government.

Agreeably to the suggestion made by Mr. Rockhill to it, the department will be pleased to have you bring the matter to the attention of the foreign office with a view to obtain, if possible, the issuance of the necessary instructions to the Austro-Hungarian representative at Peking.

I am, etc.,

Robert Bacon.