122.352/55
The Secretary of State to the Minister in China (Johnson)
Sir: The Department has received your despatch No. 135 dated April 8, 1930, transmitting a memorandum of your conversation with the British Minister on March 26, 1930,7 regarding the proposal of the Chinese Government that henceforth requests be made for the issuance of exequaturs to consular officers in China. Note has been taken of your statement to the British Minister that in your view the question of exequaturs should remain to be settled when a new commercial treaty with China is negotiated and that in the meantime the procedure should be as in the past, viz., to notify the Chinese authorities of the appointment of American consular officers. You stated further, that, if the question of exequaturs were to be raised again by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, you would favor making a reply to the effect that this question would have to be settled in the course of treaty negotiations.
The Department concurs in your views on this subject as set forth above and authorizes you to proceed in accordance therewith, keeping in mind, however, the Department’s previous instructions on this subject and keeping the Department fully informed of any developments that may occur.
I am [etc.]
- Neither printed.↩