893.512/447: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in China (MacMurray)
272. Referring to third paragraph, your telegram 555 of November 16, 2 p.m. The Department has no intention of declining to give protection to commerce borne under the flag of the United States. It is the view of the Department that consultation as to the form and scope of protection should be had with commercial interests for the reason presented in its telegram 255, November 1, 1 p.m. The commander in chief of our naval forces should be consulted upon arrangements for the extension of protection, when protection is sought, to bona fide, American-owned shipping. The nature and the extent of the protection to be extended must be determined by naval authorities there, taking into consideration the local conditions and particular circumstances which are involved when protection is applied for.