893.51/5312: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in China (Johnson)
221. Department’s 207, June 23, 6 p.m., and 212, June 26, 4 p.m. In compliance with the desire of the Japanese Embassy to learn the [Page 262] views of this Government in regard to the suggestions of the Japanese Government presented to the Department on June 21, the Department has today handed to the Embassy a memorandum of oral statement of its views as quoted hereunder. A copy of the statement has been handed likewise to the Italian Embassy in reply to inquiry by that Embassy.
“The views of the Department of State, imparted to the American Legation at Peiping, are in substance as follows:
- 1.
- An attempt, whether by regional authorities or by the Nanking Government, to collect dues or duties in an irregular manner should be protested against.
- 2.
- The Department authorizes the Legation to join the Legations of other interested Powers in filing protests in conformity with the above principle.
- 3.
- Where a Customs office is functioning and collects dues and duties in conformity with applicable provisions of treaties and regulations, such office must be dealt with by American citizens as a de facto Customs office.
- 4.
- It is desired that the matter be handled in the spirit of cooperation. It is believed that any action which may be taken by way of protest against seizure of customs houses, et cetera, should be motivated on (1) the principle of safeguarding the integrity of the Chinese Customs Administration in conformity with existing treaty provisions and other commitments of China, together with (2) the principle of serving the general interest, including that of China as a whole. It is believed that reliance should be placed upon diplomatic processes.”