493.11/1527
The Secretary of State to the Minister in China (Johnson)
Sir: The Department acknowledges the receipt of your despatch No. 376 of August 8, 1930, and approves your instruction to the American Consul General at Canton regarding the further preparation of claims which have been found not to be susceptible of local settlement and which the claimants believe have a legal basis as formal diplomatic claims. In this connection it would seem desirable to point out to the claimant in each case that he should take every reasonable means to ascertain the precise circumstances under which the loss was sustained, while the incident is still fresh and it might be possible to obtain corroborative documentary evidence to support his allegations; and such evidence should be produced with his petition or memorial of claim. It would also be desirable for the claimant to state the grounds which, in his opinion, would obligate the Chinese Government to respond in money damages under accepted principles of international law.
Very truly yours,