693.002/365
The Department of State to the British Embassy
Reference is made to the British Embassy’s aide-mémoire of September 6,86 stating that the Chargé d’Aflaires of the British Embassy at Tokyo has been instructed to inform the Japanese Government that the British Government desires to remind the Japanese Government of the substantial British interests in both the Chinese customs [Page 862] and salt administrations and in the revenues which those administrations collect and to add that while the British Government does not doubt that the Japanese Government intends scrupulously to respect the interests in question the British Government would be glad to receive an assurance that that is in fact the intention of the Japanese Government.
With reference to the British Government’s inquiry whether or not the American Government is contemplating taking action along similar lines, the American Government has the matter under consideration and on September 3 requested a telegraphic report from the American Ambassador at Nanking with regard to matters affecting the Chinese customs and salt administrations. Upon receipt of a report from the Ambassador, the Department will expect to communicate further with the British Embassy.
- Not printed.↩