893.801 Search/10: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Minister in China (Johnson)
83. Your telegrams 165, March 2, 11 a.m., and 166, March 3, 1 p.m. Department believes that renewed representations to Nanking would be warranted protesting against the stopping and searching of American merchant vessels by military authorities. The Department suggests that the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs be reminded that the Chinese Maritime Customs is the agency of the Chinese Government [Page 93] authorized by treaty to search American merchant vessels. Should the Legation’s representations be ineffective in this instance, the Department should be so informed.