393.1163/1060: Telegram
The First Secretary of Embassy in China ( Smyth ) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 6—4:25 a.m.]
75. Department’s 22, January 28, 8 p.m. to Chungking and 38, February 19, 9 p.m. to Peiping regarding travel from occupied to unoccupied China.
The Embassy here knows no approved manner of restricting passports for travel in specified portions of a country. If a passport is made valid for travel in “China,” the Embassy and Consular Officers can use only moral persuasion and decline to help persons whose travel from occupied to unoccupied China is not desirable but who have valid reasons for being in occupied China.
It is respectfully suggested that the Department may wish to consider prescribing a suitable limitation to fit the need under reference.
Sent to the Department, repeated to Chungking and Shanghai.