893.542/58: Telegram

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

614. Your 251.69 Legation has today received from Nanking a draft statement on patents prepared for release to press clarifying statement made by Ministry of Industries in April and clearly pointing out that in spite of China’s failure to establish a patent office as required by article 10 of the treaty of 1903 Chinese will not be accorded exclusive right to manufacture of products if it be found that they are an imitation of foreign patented articles or if it be shown by interested parties that the product is an imitation.

I have requested Smyth70 to inform Ministry of Foreign Affairs that Legation approves of statement and to request that it be released to the press as soon as possible.71 Complete text is being transmitted by mail.72

Johnson
  1. Dated July 18, 4 p.m.; it stated: “Department desires that this matter be pressed.” (893.542/52)
  2. Robert Lacy Smyth, Second Secretary of Legation.
  3. The statement appeared July 22.
  4. Not printed.