894c.111/11
The Secretary of State to the Charge in China (Tenney)
Sir: The Department has received your despatch of August 13, 1919,28 asking for instructions as to the attitude of this Government towards the continuance of the application of Japanese passport regulations to American citizens within the zone of the South Manchuria Railway. In this connection you are referred to the Department’s telegraphic instruction of April 19, 6 p.m. 1918, by which this Government acquiesced in the application of the Japanese passport regulations to American citizens entering Port Arthur Leased Territory and the zone of the South Manchuria Railway as a temporary expedient made necessary by the war. The Department understands that that arrangement, in so far as this Government is concerned, will become inoperative as soon as the treaty of Peace has been ratified by this country and Japan.
The Department holds the same views as regards the similar arrangement with the Russian Government on the Chinese Eastern Railway covered by the Department’s telegraphic instruction to you of August 24, 3 p.m., 1917.28
I am [etc.]