893.52/425
The Ambassador in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 19.]
Sir: I have the honor to refer to the Embassy’s despatch No. 625 of August 4, 1936, regarding the re-registration of title-deeds to property held by American missionary organizations at Nanking, and to enclose a copy in English translation of a note received from the Foreign Office under date September 4, 1936,53 transmitting a communication from the Nanking Municipal Government in which it is stated that the time-limit for application for re-registration has been extended one month to September 30 of this year.
The Embassy is sending a new note to the Foreign Office under today’s date, reiterating its refusal to recognize the validity of any time-limit which may be imposed as it might affect established rights of land-tenure. A copy of this note is enclosed for the information of the Department.53
[Page 669]There is also enclosed, for purposes of record, a copy of an instruction being sent under today’s date to the Consulate General at Shanghai.54
Respectfully yours,