Historical Documents - Office of the Historian

693.002/912: Telegram

Washington, August 30, 1939—6 p.m.

183. Swatow’s August 25, noon, to you and your 448, August 26, 3 p.m.,5 Swatow customs.

1.: Please instruct the American Consul at Swatow to refrain from initiating a discussion with the Japanese authorities in regard to the customs situation at Swatow and to report, with a request for instructions, any proposal for protests by the interested consuls.
2.: Unless you perceive objection not mentioned in your telegram under reference, please transmit the following message to Tokyo as from the Department:

“Reference Swatow’s 41, July 12, noon, to Department and August 25, noon, to Peiping and Peiping’s 448, August 26, 3 p.m.,6 all of which Peiping is hereby requested to repeat to you.

Department authorizes you to protest to the Japanese Foreign Office, on the grounds outlined in Department’s 392, November 18, 8 p.m.,7 against the seizure and continued occupation by the Japanese authorities of the Chinese Maritime Customs house at Swatow.

You may, in your discretion, consult your interested colleagues in regard to possible similar but separate protests by them.”
3.: If and when Tokyo has taken the action above authorized you should inform Swatow thereof.

Sent to Peiping. Repeated to Chungking.

Hull

Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1939, The Far East, Volume III