893.711/80
The Consul General at Harbin (Hanson) to the Minister in China (Johnson)94
Sir: I have the honor to refer to my despatch No. 2358, addressed to the Legation under date of April 7, 1932,95 on the subject “Detention of American Publications in the Mails by Japanese Censors”. As indicated therein the attention of the postal authorities and the Japanese Consulate General here was at that time directed to the alleged removal and detention of certain publications of the American Mission of Seventh-Day Adventists by a Japanese censor stationed in the Post Office at Changchun.
A reply has now been received from Mr. F. L. Smith, the Harbin Post Commissioner, quoting a report from the Deputy Commissioner of Posts at Changchun confirming the detention of copies of one of the publications of the American Mission by the Japanese censors. The Deputy Commissioner adds that the censors state “that if no anti-Japanese propaganda is published in future, the paper will not be detained; but that copies already detained cannot now be released”. A copy of Mr. Smith’s note dated April 22, 1932, is enclosed.95
It is therefore apparent that under existing conditions, American mail in Manchuria is subject not only to censorship, but to detention by the Japanese authorities.
Respectfully yours,