893.20 Manchuria/44: Telegram
The Second Secretary of Embassy in China (Smyth) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 18—1:45 p.m.]
592. Embassy’s 591, November 18, 3 p.m. The Embassy received November 16 following telegram from Harbin:
“27, November 15, 4 p.m. The circular letter received by Mukden from the Foreign Office regarding registration under the national ability law was also given this office yesterday afternoon with the oral assurance that the Government has no intention of drafting American citizens under the National mobilization law but merely wishes a census of all persons falling within the lines technical categories listed in law.
There are apparently only two Americans, missionary doctors, in this district who would be required to register. I see no objection to informing the delegate of the Bureau for Foreign Affairs to that effect and giving him their names together with the simple data called for in the registration forms for their profession provided such action would not be inconsistent with that to be taken by Mukden.
I believe such procedure would obviate insistence on personal registration by the individuals under reference and at the same time avoid the question of extraterritoriality.
Repeated to Mukden.”
Embassy also received November 16 following telegram from Mukden:
“23, November 16, 10 a.m. Harbin’s 28 [27?], November 15, 4 p.m. Full report will be delivered to the Embassy Saturday morning by safe hand. Matter was discussed with Mr. Lockhart30 who in view of the important issues involved suggested that all action, even acknowledgment, be withheld pending review by the Department.”
Substance of Mukden’s telegram was telegraphed to Harbin by the Embassy November 17, 11 a.m.
By air mail to Tokyo and by mail to Chungking.
- Frank P. Lockhart, Counselor of Embassy in China.↩