693.116/71: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 9—5:40 a.m.]
665. 1. Legation’s 650, August 3, 2 p.m. Consul General Canton informed the Legation August 4, 4 p.m., that Inspector General for Foreign Affairs had received no instructions from the National Government.
2. In view of the uncertainty as to the amount of pressure that could be effectively brought to bear upon Canton authorities through the Foreign Office, the Legation instructed Counselor of Legation at Nanking to use his discretion as to the amount and the method of pressure to be brought in Nanking.
3. Following from Counselor Peck to the Legation and to Canton:
“August 8, 9 a.m. Blunt, representing British Legation, and I called at the Foreign Office August 7, noon, and expressed the surprise and disappointment of our Legations that the promised telegram of instructions had not been received by the Canton representative of the Foreign Office up to August 4. Director of the Department of International Affairs stated that the Foreign Office had telegraphed asking for report but must await such report before issuing instructions. We replied insisting that telegram be sent to Canton immediately conveying at least the information that the American and British Legations were strongly protesting against the violation of rights of importation and manufacturing as granted inter alia in article 15 of the American treaty of 1858 and article 3 of the American treaty of 1903. This telegram was despatched by the Foreign Office.”