Office of the Historian

393.115/335: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the First Secretary of Embassy in China (Salisbury), at Peiping

Washington, June 15, 1938—3 p.m.

153. Your 306, May 18, 5 p.m. With a view to considering the possible strengthening of the basis for possible general representations on the subject of Japanese interference with American trade it is desired that the Embassy with the collaboration of Consuls submit by telegraph a report summarizing the extent to which interference with American trade or the shipment of supplies to American mission stations in the interior is still continuing not only in the Chefoo consular district but elsewhere in China. Such report may well include brief mention of any outstanding instances of such interference.

Please repeat this telegram to Tokyo and also any further telegrams sent by the Embassy on this matter.

Hull