811.5034 (China) American Radio Service/63: Telegram
The Consul at Tientsin (Fletcher) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 5—12:20 p.m.]
American Radio Service. My British colleague has just reported a rumor that Nichols has an office in the British Concession for accepting and delivering the texts of messages for American Radio Service clients; that he is anxious not to embarrass me by asking the police to investigate or asking me to take any official action; but requests me to endeavor informally [to] advise Nichols not to use the British municipal area for any purpose connected with the American Radio Service which is understood to be still operating from an undisclosed place.
My British colleague feels that it would be a violation of the Tientsin agreement to allow the enterprise to exercise any of its functions within the British municipal area for which he would be open to an accusation of breach of faith.
[Page 925]The Embassy’s instructions are requested.
Sent to Peiping. Repeated to the Department, Chungking, Tokyo.