893.51/5335
Memorandum by the Minister in China (Johnson)24
In conversation with Dr. Frank Lee, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs today, I referred to the question of Tientsin and the desire of the Chinese to stop and search vessels going in and out of Tientsin. Vice Minister Lee stated that he had heard nothing further in regard to the matter, that he had referred it to the Minister of Finance and also to the Ministry of the Navy. He mentioned the fact that in conversation with Admiral McVay the latter had objected to the idea of putting Customs officers on Chinese naval vessels and to the suggestion made that the naval vessels be turned over to the Customs for purposes of search. He stated that the Chinese Navy naturally objected to flying the Customs flag on naval vessels.
- Copy transmitted to the Department without covering despatch; received July 17, 1930.↩