893.801 Search/14: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 14—9:15 a.m.]
332. Legation’s 330, May 13, 6 p.m. Following telegram has been received from the Minister, dated May 13, noon:
“With reference to aide-mémoire of May 12, my own opinion is that we should not object to action proposed by Nationalist Government. We have recognized this Government and in dealing with permits for export from the United States of arms and munitions of war refusing permits except on requests made by the Nationalist Government through accredited representative at Washington. It seems to me that it naturally follows that we should recognize this Government’s right through its agencies to search vessels for munitions of war at a point without such documentation.”