122.352/48

The Chargé in China (Perkins) to the Secretary of State

No. 2462

Sir: Referring to the Department’s instruction No. 1366, of October 2, 1929,4 directing this Legation to notify the Foreign Office of the assignments and the appointments of certain consular officers in China, I have the honor to transmit herewith a translation of a note dated September 23, 1929, from the Minister for Foreign Affairs4 to the effect that in the future the Legation notify the Chinese Government of the appointment of consular officers in China and transmit commissions in order that the Foreign Office may issue exequaturs.

Inasmuch as this appears to be a radical departure from former procedure, and as a request for exequaturs might possibly weaken the position of our consular service in this country, I have withheld notification to the Foreign Office of the assignments and appointments of such officers named in the Department’s above-cited instruction for whom the Legation had not previously requested recognition. Recognition has not been asked for Messrs. Dorsey, Stanton, Bonbright, Graves, Coudray, Staten, James, Brennan, and Sundell.

It appears that other Legations in Peiping have received similar communications from the Minister for Foreign Affairs relative to the issuance of exequaturs, and I understand that the Japanese Legation will probably ignore the matter completely. The British Legation has informed the Chinese authorities that the matter has been referred to London.

I shall be grateful if the Department will instruct me as to whether, in the future, commissions of consular officers should be transmitted to the Chinese Minister for Foreign Affairs with the request that exequaturs be issued. Instructions are also requested as to what action should be taken in regard to the officers aforementioned. I venture to request a reply by naval radio.

I have [etc.]

Mahlon F. Perkins
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