893.71 Manchuria/55
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Switzerland (Wilson), at Geneva
Sir: The receipt is acknowledged of your unnumbered despatch, dated February 23, 1934,48 enclosing a copy of a communication from the League of Nations (C.102.M.37.1934.VII), dated February 14, 1934, transmitting a copy of a note from the British Government to the Secretary-General of the League, requesting that the question of the extent to which de facto relations may be permitted between foreign postal administrations and the Manchurian postal authorities, without involving, by implication or otherwise, recognition of the existing regime in Manchuria, be Brought before the relevant subcommittee of the Advisory Committee set up by the League Assembly by its resolution of February 24, 1933.49
In view of the probability that the Advisory Committee will desire to be informed of the procedure which the American postal authorities have adopted with regard to the settlement of transit payments due to the “Manchukuo” postal authorities in respect of mails sent through Manchuria, you request that you be furnished with information which would enable you to reply to inquiries from the Advisory Committee, and with comment or expression of policy in this relation which the Department would desire you to state.
It is understood that no question of payment by the American postal authorities to the “Manchukuo” postal authorities for transit charges has arisen, for the reason that no mail originating in the United States is sent in transit through Manchuria.
It is desired that, after the Advisory Committee has taken up the question raised by the British Government, you seek a suitable opportunity, without, however, appearing to take a position of leadership, to state that, in the opinion of the American Government, it would be desirable that the postal administrations of states members of the League of Nations and of other states adhering to the resolution of February 24, 1933, of the League Assembly, avoid any dealings [Page 134] with the postal administration of Manchuria which might be construed as conferring recognition upon the “Manchukuo” regime. You may suggest that clearance of accounts due to the “Manchukuo” postal authorities might be made by the postal administrations concerned through appropriate agencies of the Japanese Government, or alternatively through the International Postal Union and thence through appropriate agencies of the Japanese Government. It is believed that either method of procedure would avoid raising in fact or by implication the question of de facto relations between the postal administrations concerned and the “Manchukuo” postal authorities.
Very truly yours,
Under Secretary
- Not printed.↩
- Foreign Relations, Japan, 1931–1941, vol. i, p. 113.↩