Office of the Historian

493.11/1603: Telegram

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

Shanghai, February 17, 1932—2 p.m.
[Received February 17—9:15 a.m.]

My February 13, 4 p.m.

[1.]
T. V. Soong is pressing me for a reply to his letter.
2.
I understand from my Italian colleague that his Government does not view with favor a postponement of Boxer Indemnity payments.
3.
Manager of Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation here has informed member of my staff confidentially that his bank [Page 610] has not for some time past considered itself as the custodian of the Boxer Indemnity funds. It would therefore have to decline any responsibility in the event that these funds should be drawn upon by the Inspector General of Customs under orders from the Chinese Government.
Johnson