811.5034 (China) American Radio Service/5: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Counselor of Embassy in China (Lockhart), at Peiping
255. Your 567, November 3, 3 p.m. The Department does not believe that mere suspicions or allegations such as those put forth by the Japanese that the American Radio Service is a “base” for an anti-Japanese terrorist group should cause a modification of attitude by the Department toward the American Radio Service. However, the Department, of course, looks to the American operators of the service, under present abnormal conditions, to adhere strictly to a policy of non-involvement in Sino-Japanese controversies and to take every possible and proper step to avoid the appearance of such involvement. In this connection the Department is mindful that the American Radio Service operates in a foreign-administered area and that foreign-administered [Page 405] areas in China cannot reasonably be expected either to maintain a position of aloofness from disputes and controversies arising out of causes beyond their borders or to effect protection to organizations within the areas under their control unless those organizations which seek the protection of such areas adhere to a policy of non-involvement in such disputes and controversies.
Your telegram under reference does not indicate whether you have reason to believe that the Japanese suspicions and allegations in question are without foundation or whether the Consulate General at Tientsin has received from the managers of the American Radio Service a denial of or any specific statement in regard to those suspicions and allegations. It is accordingly suggested that you ask the Consulate General at Tientsin to bring the statements of the Japanese Consulate General to the attention of the American Radio Service with a view to clarifying this aspect of the question of the character of the American Radio Service and that you ask the Consulate General to point out to the managers of the service the considerations mentioned above in regard to the necessity of avoiding involvement in political matters.
It would seem desirable that the Consulate General at Tientsin should also undertake a comprehensive investigation of the organization’s activities and report thereon in full to the Embassy for its consideration and reference to the Department with appropriate comment and recommendation.
Sent to Peiping. Repeated to Chungking and Tientsin.