893.512/484
The Consul General at Canton (Jenkins) to the Minister in China (MacMurray)81
Canton, November 17,
1926.
No. 566
Sir: I have the honor to refer to this
Consulate General’s telegrams of November 11, 1 p.m.82 and November 14, 4 p.m.83
concerning the attitude of the Canton regime with relation to the
Diplomatic Body, and am enclosing herewith a confirmation copy of Mr.
Chen’s note of November 8, 1926, to the Portuguese Consul General.
Reference is also had to this Consulate General’s telegram of November
17, 12, noon, respecting Mr. Chen’s note to me of November 13, 1926, a
copy of which is enclosed herewith.
It will be observed that in this connection Mr. Chen invites the
attention of this Consulate General to his reply of November 8 to the
Portuguese Consul General wherein it is set forth that the status and
relations of the Powers (including the United States) vis a vis the
Cantonese régime are not regulated on a basis which can properly entitle
them to raise questions of treaty violation.
Needless to say, this Consulate General has not made any reply to this
audacious communication from Mr. Chen and shall await instructions from
the Legation before taking any further action. In the meantime, however,
I am discussing the matter with my colleagues and shall probably take
the liberty of telegraphing the Legation our views and asking for
instructions as to how to proceed.
I have [etc.]
[Enclosure 1]
The Chinese Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs
at Canton (Chen) to the Portuguese
Consul General at Canton (Da Horta)
Canton, November 8,
1926.
Sir: In order to avoid misunderstanding and
to assist to a right perception of the new realities of the national
situation resulting from the extension of Nationalist authority over
the greater part of China, I have the honour to return the enclosed
letter, dated November 584 and transmitted through the post, which
purports to be a protest communicated by the “Senior Consul at
Canton” by direction of the “Senior Minister of the interested
Powers represented at Peking”
[Page 901]
who declare that they cannot recognize the
legality of the internal taxes authorized by “the Canton
authorities” on consumption and production of goods within the
Liang-Kwang on the ground that the same are “in direct violation of
treaties”.
My Government does not recognize the existence of the “Senior
Minister of the interested Powers represented at Peking” (who lacks
juridical sanction), nor are the status and the relations of the
same Powers vis-a-vis my Government regulated on a basis which can
properly entitle them to raise the question of a “direct violation
of treaties”.
I have the honour to add that my Government is ready to discuss this
and other questions as and when all or any of the Powers represented
at Peking realise that national power and authority has long since
ceased to be exercised in Peking and that the revolutionary and
constructive forces of Nationalist China have now transferred this
national power and authority to my Government.
I have [etc.]
[Enclosure 2]
The Chinese Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs
at Canton (Chen) to the American
Consul General (Jenkins)
Canton, November 13,
1926.
Sir: In answer to your dispatch of November
6, 1926,85 wherein you state that
the Government of the United States considers the levying of the
taxes recently proposed by my Government on products and goods of
consumption in violation of the Treaty provisions, and instructs you
to bring forth a protest, I have the honour to inform you that on
November 5, 1926, the Portuguese Consul General at Canton had
already registered at this Ministry a protest of similar nature
under the instructions of the diplomatic representatives at Peking,
to which a reply was duly given by this Ministry to properly deal
with the case.
As it is now necessary for me to deal with yours by holding the same
proposition set forth in my reply to the Portuguese Consul, I have
the honor to enclose herewith a copy of the reply for your
information.86
With compliments.
