793.003/739: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 23, 1931—10 p.m.]
My June 20, 3 p.m.74 Arnold75 and I are wondering whether it would not be useful to incorporate in the treaty, either in an article or by exchange of notes, some arrangement covering patents and copyrights. [Page 882] As regard copyrights, in recent conversations at the Foreign Office I have found them unwilling apparently to enter into any arrangement which would place our people in China upon a basis similar to that enjoyed by Chinese in the United States. The situation of course is that any denial by us of rights to Chinese in the United States would have like effect on Chinese. Prodigious demand in China for American text and reference books is so great that it profits Chinese to continue present practice of pirating. Linked with extraterritorial negotiations something might be accomplished. Similar situation exists in regard to patents. There is I understand at present a domestic law protecting Chinese patents but under impetus of encouragement of domestic industries infringement of foreign patent rights is condoned.