393.115 Hunt and Company, William/73: Telegram
The Consul General at Shanghai (Gauss) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 4—7:40 a.m.]
1391. I have received following letter from Japanese Consul General dated November 2:
“At the request of the Japanese naval authorities I have the honor to inform you of the following. Bund warehouses belonging to the China Merchants Steam Navigation Company at Hankow were found with American flag ‘William Hunt’ on them. However, these [Page 525] being considered as property belonging to the Chinese Government, these have been seized by the Japanese naval authorities.”
I have acknowledged receipt of the letter today and stated as follows:
“As Hankow is not within my consular jurisdiction, I am referring the charges to the appropriate American authorities for consideration. Meanwhile, I must reserve all American rights and interests in respect [to] all property displaying the American flag or marked as the property of American citizens or firms, and I must add that I am unable to countenance any action of your military, naval, or other authorities in entering upon or seizing any such property without prior reference to the American authorities concerned. Please so inform your naval authorities.”
Repeated to Chungking, Peiping and Hankow.