893.6363/121: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Minister in China (Johnson)
59. No. 39, February 25, 4 p.m. from Minister at Nanking. The Department desires that the Legation take appropriate steps orally and informally to bring to the personal attention of the Minister of Industry and of Mr. Wicks the general policy of the American Government in regard to monopolies in China, pointing out that, although the Department is not in position to pass upon in advance any particular concession or proposal without having all the facts before it, this proposal, as reported in the above mentioned telegram, would appear clearly to contravene Article 3 of the Nine Power Treaty of February 6, 1922, to which both the American and Chinese Governments, among other governments, are signatories and that in the circumstances the American Government would be [forced to disapprove] the proposal.