893.918/91
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 4.]
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith, for the information of the Department, copies of despatches L–658 and L–661 Diplomatic of March 16 and March 20, 1935, respectively, from the Nanking Office of the Legation,97 with regard to alleged unfairness in the manner in which censorship is applied to the outgoing telegraphic messages of newspaper correspondents in Shanghai. It will be noted that the American newspaperman who makes the complaint, Mr. J. B. Powell of the Chicago Tribune, contends that the censorship is administered in Shanghai “in a most inefficient and ignorant manner”, excepting that evidently no censorship at all is applied to the messages of Japanese correspondents.
It will be observed from the Legation’s reply of to-day’s date, copy of which is enclosed,98 that it is felt no useful purpose would be served in making a formal protest in the matter, as it is commonly known that the Chinese censorship lies completely in the hands of the Chinese military and that the civil authorities can bring no effective pressure to bear in the matter. Furthermore it is believed that the Japanese correspondents escape censorship by being permitted to send their messages by wireless or cable under the control of the Japanese Government. Mr. Peck has been instructed to call to the attention of the Chinese authorities, informally, the probability that the continuance of such an administration of the censorship would be finally prejudicial to China’s own best interests as far as publicity is concerned.
There is also enclosed, in English translation, a copy of the revised censorship regulations governing the transmission of telegraphic messages,98 as obtained from the Metropolitan Telegraph Office in Nanking. The Legation is watching the administration of these new rules, which have obviously objectionable features.
Respectfully yours,