893.515/1367: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Consul General at Tientsin (Caldwell)
14. Reference last substantive paragraph of your 35, March 16, 5 p.m. Department raises the question whether the present situation in north China or the limited authority that can be lawfully exercised in the concessions at Tientsin by the powers holding those concessions forms any sound basis for the statement made by you on behalf of the consular officers of career at Tientsin excepting the Japanese, that you “fully recognize the right of the Japanese authorities to make whatever regulations they see fit regarding the currency to be used in their concession”. Please inform Department of the grounds upon which the quoted statement was based.
With respect to the question of search the Department suggests that if a similar situation in future should give rise to the need of a statement of our position, such statement should not be limited to the denial of Japanese right to search Americans for a specific purpose but should be based on the general principle that this Government does not admit any right of Japanese authorities to search American citizens in China or to seize the property of American nationals in China.
Peiping please repeat by mail to Tokyo.
Repeated to Peiping and Chungking.