893.52/415
The Ambassador in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 8.]
Sir: I have the honor to refer to the Embassy’s despatch No. 569 of July 8, 1936, in regard to the re-registration of title-deeds to property held by American missionary organizations at Nanking, and to enclose copies48 of a note (in English translation) from the Foreign Office under date of July 23, 1936, a despatch from the Embassy at Nanking under date of July 28, a telegram to the Consulate General at Shanghai under date of August 1, 3 p.m., a note from the Embassy to the Foreign Office and an instruction to the Consulate General at Shanghai under today’s date.
It will be observed that the Foreign Office in its note gives what appear to be satisfactory explanations regarding the points raised in the Embassy’s note of June 30, 1936.47 On the basis of the assurances received, but without recognition of the validity of the time-limit imposed by the Nanking Municipal Government, the Embassy, [Page 667] in accord with the general observations made in the Department’s instruction No. 185 of May 29, 1936, instructed the Consulate General at Shanghai that American missionary organizations may be informed that no objection is perceived to their applying for re-registration of their land-titles.
The provision under the heading “Remarks” of the new lease-certificate forms for the payment of a land-tax would not seem to introduce any new element into the question: if it is thought desirable, the land-tax may still be paid by the mission concerned as a “voluntary contribution” as heretofore. The Shanghai Consulate General was instructed, however, that the Embassy was not expressly accepting the principle of the payment of the land-tax.
Respectfully yours,