393.11/434: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Minister in China (MacMurray)

16. Your 49, January 18, 7 p.m. Department approves action described by you in paragraphs 1 and 2.

If you consider that the filing of a formal protest with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at Peking under present conditions, when protest is also to be made with the so-called Nationalist authorities at Hankow, will either result in dividing responsibility or incurring ill will on the part of so-called Nationalist authorities you are authorized to discontinue protest at Peking against acts of forces not under their control.

Kellogg