811.5034 (China) American Radio Service/53: Telegram
The Consul at Tientsin (Fletcher) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 1—5:30 a.m.]
My September 30, 6 p.m. In an official communiqué my French colleague81 informed me this morning that the operation of the radio in the French Concession by the American Radio Service was in contravention the [of?] French municipal regulations and also an infraction by the French authorities of the Franco-Japanese agreement.82 He further states that due to the intense indignation among the Japanese he must seize the set and all documents found on the premises for delivery to the Japanese Consul General to whom he relegated all future negotiations regarding the matter.
My French colleague attached a personal note to the above letter in which he expressed his regret that no other alternative was open to him under present condition without danger of further involvement. He said that he does not intend to inflict any fine provided by law on the American company but requested me to inform the [Page 923] owners that their presence is not wanted in the French Municipality.
Sent to Peiping, repeated to Department and to Chungking.