823.74/73: Telegram
The Minister in China ( Crane ) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 18—10:35 a.m.]
92. My 80, February 5, 5 p.m. Japanese Minister informs me by note he has demanded cancellation Federal contract on the ground of supplementary letter of March 5th, 1918, of Mitsui contract20 which states:
“During the term of thirty years no other party nor the Chinese Government shall be allowed to erect a similar wireless telegraph station for communicating telegraphically with Europe and America.”
I am confidentially advised by Ministers of Communications and foreign Affairs Japanese would probably do little more than formally protest except under British instigation. Text of note by pouch.20