611.9331/195: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in China ( Johnson )
Washington
, June 15,
1934—7 p.m.
172. Your 229, June 5, 4 p.m. and 248, June 14, 2 p.m.
- 1.
- Department concurs in the view that, as matters now stand, there is no need for us to take further action. However, if British Minister should be instructed by his Government to inform the Chinese authorities orally along the lines set forth in paragraph 2 of your 229, June 5, 4 p.m., you are also authorized to take similar action stressing the point that the system of the exercise in China of extraterritorial jurisdiction by the foreign powers rests on a broader and more comprehensive basis than merely the provisions of any one treaty of any one power.
- 2.
- Because of the erroneous and misleading statements alleged to have been made by Mr. Suma of the Japanese Legation in regard to our discussions with the Chinese Government on the subject of extraterritorial jurisdiction (see Nanking’s despatch of April 18 to the Legation entitled “Attitude of the Japanese Government Toward Foreign Military Advisers in China”73), the Department desires (unless you perceive some strong reason to the contrary) that, discreetly guarding the source of your information and without mentioning Suma, you or Peck express orally to the Japanese Minister to China surprise at the unfounded statements apparently thus emanating from Japanese official sources and give him, orally and in confidence, a brief outline of the substance of the record of what has occurred as set forth in the notes exchanged with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, beginning with the Chinese note of December 23, 1933.
Hull
- Not printed.↩