893.00/3902
The Secretary of State to the Consul General at Canton (Bergholz)
Sir: The Department has received a despatch (D.No. 258) of May 7, 1921,14 signed by Vice Consul Price, reporting upon political conditions in the Canton Consular District, and describing the socalled [Page 340] inauguration of Doctor Sun Yat-sen as President of China. There was enclosed a sealed letter addressed to the President of the United States which the Vice Consul had been asked to transmit. There is nothing in the text of the covering despatch to indicate who the writer of the sealed letter is, or who requested its transmission, but it is assumed that the letter is from Doctor Sun Yat-sen.
The Department is returning the sealed envelope or letter herewith, and you are instructed to see that it is promptly returned to the sender with a proper oral expression of regret at your inability to forward it.
It is also desired that you caution Vice Consul Price against the irregularity of permitting the Consulate General to make itself a vehicle of official communication for an organization in revolt against a Government with which the United States is in friendly relations.
I am [etc.]