Office of the Historian

693.002/688: Telegram

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

Washington, June 18, 1938—3 p.m.

184 Tour 301, June 17, 2 p.m. and previous.

1.
The Department suggests that your reply to the Chinese Government’s note of June 6 embody the following points:
(a)
The American Government continues to have active interest in the preservation of the integrity of the Chinese Maritime Customs, both with regard to administrative functioning and with regard to the servicing of foreign loans and quotas.
(b)
It is understood that British suggestion made within recent months in regard to the matter of international administration or supervision of the Chinese Maritime Customs did not have a favorable reception, and the American Government does not feel that the present offers prospects of any more favorable consideration of such a proposal.
2.
When presenting your note you may add orally that the American Government would not be disposed to place any obstacle in the way of the organization of some form of international administration or supervision of the Chinese customs, provided due regard be given to American interests.9
Hull
  1. Ambassador Johnson reported in telegram No. 308, June 22, 4 p.m., that the reply and oral statement were made on June 21 (693.002/703).↩