793.94112/310: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Consul General at Shanghai (Gauss)
43. Your 70, January 24, 6 p.m., opening of Yangtze. In reply to inquiry of the Inspector General of the Chinese Maritime Customs, please inform him that this Government has consistently objected to any interference with the rights of Americans with respect to navigation and trade on the Yangtze and naturally desires to see normal navigation on the Yangtze restored; that this Government is likewise, as it has repeatedly indicated, interested in the maintenance of the administrative integrity of the Chinese Maritime Customs; but that this Government is not inclined at this moment to attempt to influence the Chinese Government in its attitude in the matter under consideration.
Sent to Shanghai. Repeated to Chungking and Peiping. Peiping please send cipher text to Tokyo by air mail.