693.116/95: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 27—8:30 a.m.]
772. Legation’s 768, September 25, 4 p.m. Following from American Consul General at Canton to the Legation and Nanking:
“September 25, 4 p.m. My September 21, 6 p.m. On Friday93 Inspector General informed me that our proposal for modification of registration form was being carefully considered but he could give no indication as to whether the attitude was favorable or when a reply might be expected. He reported that the Reconstruction Bureau argues that the existing form has been prescribed by the Ministry of Industry in conformity to the national factory law of December 1931, and has not been devised by the local authorities. It [Page 585] might be helpful if the Central Government could be induced to instruct Canton that the form in question should not be considered applicable to foreign oil companies.
It has also occurred to me that, in view of heavy fall of government revenue in Kwangtung from the regular import duty on kerosene, it might be willing to reduce temporarily the kerosene duty to a figure which would enable imported kerosene to compete with the locally distilled product.”
- September 22.↩