Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1935, The Far East, Volume III

811.5034 (China) Thrift Corp./43: Telegram

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

Peiping, October 12, 1935—6 p.m.
[Received October 12—8 a.m.]

54. Embassy’s 49, October 11, 3 p.m.¹¹ Following telegram has been received from the Consul General at Harbin:

“41, October 12, 1 p.m. My October 11, 11 a.m. My statement was put in eight local newspapers of yesterday and today’s issues. I yesterday requested the Thriftcor Bank to cease flying the American flag.

2. The Japanese controlled Russian edited Harbin Times editorially states that the fact that the American Government allowed the Thriftcor Bank to claim American nationality and fly the flag of the American Government for a number of years and then disclaimed responsibility for the liquidation of the Thriftcor Bank give rise to question as to the status of other American enterprises in Harbin.

3. The National City Bank states that it has paid out today about 100,000 local dollars as a result of transactions caused by the above editorial statement. I understand that within the last week the National City Bank has paid out about 1,000,000 local dollars.

4. I am today addressing a letter to the National City Bank confirming currency of its registration in this Consulate General. The National City Bank will publish that letter.”

Johnson

11. Not printed.