693.002/366: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in China (Johnson)

227. Your 625, September 8, 5 p.m., in regard to Chinese revenue administrations. The Department is inclined to view favorably the proposal of the banking groups as quoted in Shanghai’s 650, September 4, 3 p.m. In the absence of adverse comment from you, the Department assumes that you also favor the proposal. You are authorized, therefore, if and when your British and French colleagues receive similar authorization, to support the proposal through an approach, in such manner as you deem appropriate, to the Chinese Government.

Please keep the Department promptly and fully informed in regard to this matter.

For your information: The British Embassy has handed the Department an aide-mémoire under date September 687 which states in substance that the British Embassy at Tokyo has been instructed to inform the Japanese Government that the British Government would be glad to receive an assurance that it is the intention of the Japanese Government to respect British interests in the Chinese customs and salt administrations. In reply to the British Government’s inquiry whether or not the American Government is contemplating taking action along similar lines in Tokyo, the Department has stated that it has the question of Chinese customs and salt administrations under consideration and will expect to communicate further with the British Embassy.

[Page 863]

It is the Department’s desire to have further and more definitive information with regard to the action that may be taken in Nanking before it considers making an approach in Tokyo similar to that made by the British Government.

Hull
  1. Not printed.