893.918/57: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
566. Department’s mail instruction 133, June 6th. Following from American Consul at Nanking:
“July 9, 4 p.m. The following is translation of the rules governing newspaper correspondents which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informs [Page 565] me will be sent the various Consulates tomorrow for their Legations:
- 1.
- During periods of military activity, all Chinese and foreign reporters are subject to inspection. The procedure in the matter is as follows:
- 2.
- When Chinese and foreign reporters send telegraphic messages they shall do so at the telegraph or telephone offices. They are not allowed to send such messages by their own registered instruments direct.
- 3.
- Before messages are sent the telegraph codes shall be submitted to the inspector for examination. The inspector shall if he considers the despatching of such messages permissible chop the codes which can then be sent.
- [4.]
- In order not to injure the business of telegraph offices, not [nor?] to make it inconvenient for press correspondents, the inspectors and telegraph offices shall consult concerning the action to be taken.
- 5.
- When necessary, foreign reporters are required to send all messages in Chinese.
- 6.
- If (the agents of) foreign-language newspapers are sending reactionary messages by taking advantages of the facilities of foreign Legations and Consulates, the Central Government shall be requested to ask the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to address notes to the appropriate Ministers or Consuls to stop such activities.”
For the Minister:
Perkins
- Telegram in two sections.↩