893.156/48: Telegram

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

373. Your 694, October 3, 8 a.m. in regard to Shanghai foreshore regulations.

1.
Until the Department has received Shanghai’s mail despatch of September 18,67 with which it is presumed that a copy of the revised regulations are being transmitted, the Department prefers not to approve Shanghai’s recommendation that the revised regulations be accepted and that American firms be advised to pay the required fees.
2.
The Department desires to know (a) whether the revised regulations have been communicated officially by the Chinese authorities either to the Consulate General at Shanghai or to the Legation; (b) whether the Legation has received a reply from the Minister for Foreign Affairs to the Legation’s note of August 20,68 and (c) whether the British Minister and/or your other interested colleagues are prepared to accept the revised regulations and to advise their nationals to pay the required fees.
3.
If the Chinese authorities at Shanghai continue to press American nationals to comply with the revised regulations, the Consul General, in his discretion, may inform the Chinese authorities that he has advised American nationals not to comply pending the receipt of instructions from his Government.
Stimson
  1. Not printed.
  2. See telegram No. 508, August 11, 6 p.m., from the Minister in China, and telegram No. 278, August 17, 1 p.m., to the Minister, pp. 1000 and 1004.