893.111/476: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Japan (Grew)
367. Peiping’s 147, June 26, 1 p.m. Please pursue further with the Foreign Minister as soon as practicable the question of Japanese military travel permits and inquire as to what steps have been taken by the Japanese authorities in north China to exclude American citizens in that area from the restrictions that were the subject of your representations in this connection (reference your 838, June 18, 6 p.m.). At the same time please emphasize that, in addition to the general rights of American nationals to travel freely in China, the personnel of American forces stationed in north China are expressly entitled by virtue of the provisions of Article 9 of the Boxer Protocol of 1901 to travel freely between Peiping and the sea; state that the American Government cannot under any circumstances assent to application of measures or controls which restrict or interfere with these rights; and request that the Japanese authorities in north China be appropriately and promptly instructed to this effect.
Sent to Tokyo via Shanghai. Repeated to Peiping, Chungking and Tientsin.