393.115 Hunt and Company, William/43: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 1—12:25 p.m.]
325. Your 194, June 29, 7 p.m. I have today addressed the following letter to the Minister for Foreign Affairs:
“Dear Mr. Minister: By a letter dated June 15, 1938, the commanding officer of the U. S. S. Monocacy at Kiukiang informed Admiral Le Breton that on June 15 the hulk of the China Merchants Steam Navigation Company, Government owned shipping company, at Kiukiang had hoisted the American flag. Upon inquiry the commander of the Monocacy was informed by the local Kiukiang manager of the China Merchants Steam Navigation Company that the company [Page 390] had received instructions from the Chinese Government to hoist the American flag on its hulks, godowns, offices, launches and lighters. It was understood that the Chinese Government owned property had been taken over by William Hunt and Company, an American company, with offices in Shanghai. The commanding officer of the U. S. S. Monocacy was instructed to inform the manager of China Merchants Steam Navigation Company that the American Government, after examining very carefully into William Hunt and Company’s claim to title to the properties of this well known Chinese Government owned shipping company, has not found any evidence of transfer of absolute and indefeasible title to these properties to William Hunt and Company and that under the circumstances no protection will be extended to these properties by American representatives. This information has been transmitted to the local manager of the China Merchants Steam Navigation Company at Kiukiang by the commanding officer of the U. S. S. Monocacy, but as this same question appears likely to arise at other places in China, where William Hunt and Company is claiming to have taken over these properties, it seems wise that I communicate the above facts to you in order that you may take such steps as may be necessary to have orders to hoist the American flag over these properties of the China Merchants Steam Navigation Company canceled. I am sure that you will agree with me that only in this way will much embarrassment and misunderstanding be prevented.”
Repeated to Shanghai.