693.116/79: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received 11 a.m.]
701. Legation’s 697, August 21, 11 a.m. Following from Consul General, Canton, to the Legation and Nanking:
“August 21, 4 p.m. My August 18, 4 p.m. I am informed by the British Consul General that he was told on August 19 by the Foreign Office representative that foreign and Chinese firms now stood on exactly the same footing in regard to importing, distilling and selling crude or other oil and that all that was required was that foreign firms should comply with the two sets of regulations referred to in my telegram August 18, 4 p.m., with which Chinese firms also have to comply.
British Consul General and I are awaiting outcome of application for registration by our respective firms.”
As the regulations in question do not at present appear to involve any objectionable control by the Chinese over the business of the foreign firms, the Legation approves of the Consul General’s decision to await the outcome of the application for registration of such firms.