Office of the Historian

793.003/685: Telegram

The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State

[Paraphrase]
Nanking, May 19, 1931—3 p.m.
[Received May 19—6:03 a.m.]

My May 9, 11 a.m., on personal status. The second paragraph of the British text should read as follows:

“All such cases of personal status where only British subjects are concerned will at the option of any of the parties concerned be dealt with outside the jurisdiction of the Chinese courts.”

The British are endeavoring to have the Chinese accept the words “of any”, and I suggest they be put in the American draft for discussion with C. C. Wu.

Johnson