893.796/207a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Second Secretary of Legation in China (Atcheson), at Nanking
58. Your 85, April 29, 10 a.m. Press item under Shanghai date line of July 2 reports Military Attaché of Japanese Embassy in China as stating that one of the secret clauses of the Tangku truce21 granted to Japan the right to “establish civil aviation in China.”
Press item of July 6 reports Chinese Consulate General at New York as stating, with reference to above report, “Concerning this report, this Consulate General has received government instructions to declare that there is no secret provision or clause whatsoever in the Tangku Truce Agreement. Nor is it a fact that the Chinese Government has ever granted to Japan the permission to establish civil aviation in China.”
Department desires that Legation continue to follow closely and to report promptly aviation developments in China with particular reference to possible effects on American interests.
Inform Peiping.
- For the Tangku Truce Agreement between the Chinese and Japanese military authorities, signed at Tangku May 31, 1933, see Foreign Relations, Japan, 1931– 1941, vol. i, p. 120.↩