893.711/101: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 25—1:05 a.m.]
275. Your 79, March 9, noon. I have discussed the question of the press registration law in cooperation with my British colleague. I now find that the British Legation wrote formally to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs consenting to registration of British publications with the Ministry of the Interior provided the Ministry of Foreign Affairs agreed in writing that penal sections of the law and those sections concerning administration of the Kuomintang would not be applied to British publications. Lo made orally to the British Chargé d’Affaires the same assurances that he made to Peck but stated that he could not make such assurances in writing. British appear to have accepted oral assurances and to have advised British publications to register.
I have discussed the Department’s attitude with the British Minister who appears willing to reopen the case with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs conforming with our attitude provided projected verbal assurances made by the British Chargé during negotiations in his absence do not preclude such action. He has written the former Chargé d’Affaires to clarify this point but has received no reply.
The Consul General at Shanghai now informs me that:
“The Shanghai Postal Commissioner has again notified American publishers to register under penalty of withdrawal of postal facilities. Commissioner states inter alia that British, French, American and Japanese Legations have been requested to instruct their nationals to register.”
No new communication has been received from the Foreign Office.
In view of the British Minister’s expressed desire to reopen his negotiations with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs I feel inclined now [Page 686] to act in compliance with your instruction under reference hoping that such action may influence the British Minister to reopen talks and take similar action. However considering the British action set forth above I should like to have the Department’s further comments before taking the action contemplated.