CHINA ATTITUDE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE ON THE EXPORT TO CHINA OF ARMS OR MUNITIONS, INCLUDING MILITARY AIRCRAFT Date and number Subject Page 1931 June 8 June 12 June 24 (312) July 9 (406) July 11 (417) July 18 (237) July 21 (41) July 22 (42) Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs Explanation of the Department's policy of exporting arms to Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs From the American Minister in China to the Chinese Minister Acknowledgment of note from the Foreign Ministry which From Hong Kong: Complaint of local agent of L. E. Gale Company, American firm, that shipments of military supplies are being made freely from European countries to Hong Kong for the Cantonese Government. From the Minister in China (tel.) From Canton: Confirmation by Canton Aviation Bureau of shipments of military airships from England and Germany, and information from the Bureau that an order has been placed with an American company, probably L. E. Gale Company, for 12 American military airships to be exported as commercial aircraft and to be armed at Hong Kong. To the Minister in China (tel.) Instructions for Canton and Hong Kong to report through the Legation any instances of military equipment and airplanes being shipped from United States or other foreign countries to the Canton authorities, and to report cases of the use of commercial planes for military purposes. From the Consul General at Nanking (tel.) Request from the Chinese Finance Minister that the United States forbid the exportation of eight Lockheed Vega planes purchased by the Canton Government for conversion into military planes. Assertion by the United Aircraft Export Company that the British authorities at Hong Kong do not impede British sales of fighting planes to Canton. From the Consul General at Nanking (tel.) Receipt of an aide-mémoire from the Chinese Foreign Office concerning the planes mentioned in telegram No. 41, July 21, requesting prohibition of export on the basis of U. S. regulations for the transportation of war materials. Information from the British authorities that the Barcelona Convention prevents their interfering with cargoes consigned to Canton. 1016 1018 1018 1019 1019 1020 1020 1021 CHINA ATTITUDE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE ON THE EXPORT TO CHINA OF ARMS OR MUNITIONS, INCLUDING MILITARY AIRCRAFT-Continued Date and number Subject Page To the Consul General at Nanking (tel.) Advice that the Department is taking steps to prevent exportation unless planes are accompanied by export licenses duly issued by this Department in conformity with the established requirements, but that it does not guarantee success of its efforts. From the Ambassador in Great Britain (tel.) Information from the British Foreign Office that export Memorandum by the Vice Consul at Nanking of a Conversation Assertion by Major Wu that the Cantonese have purchased Memorandum by the Consul General at Nanking of a Conversa tion With the Assistant Director of the Department of Gen- To the Minister in China (te!.) Information from the War and Commerce Departments that Vought Corsair planes and Douglas planes, with the exception of amphibians, are primarily for military purposes, and that the Treasury Department is being notified of the State Department's opinion that these planes should be exported to China only on the issuance of an export license by the Department. 1022 1022 1023 1023 1024 Aug. 19 (1126) From the Minister in China 1025 Note to the Foreign Minister advising that United States is taking steps with a view to preventing the shipment of eight Lockheed Vega planes to Canton. Oct. 23 (815) From the Minister in China (tel.) 1026 Nov. 13 (990) From Canton: Report from Gale's Hong Kong representative concerning Far East Aviation Company's dealings with the Canton Aviation Bureau; his objection that British sales of military aircraft to Canton, if continued, would have adverse effect on American trade. To the Ambassador in Great Britain Transmittal of copy of telegram No. 815, October 23, from the Minister in China, with instructions to bring this information to the attention of the Foreign Office and report any comments. 1026 CHINA ATTITUDE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE ON THE EXPORT TO CHINA of Arms OR MUNITIONS, INCLUDING MILITARY AIRCRAFT-Continued Date and number 1931 Dec. 12 (339) Subject To the Ambassador in Great Britain (tel.) Page 1027 Dec. 14 (461) Dec. 23 (1340) Advice of the confirmation, by Department of Commerce data, of the telegraphic report from Canton transmitted in instruction No. 990, November 13. Request for early action and report. From the Ambassador in Great Britain (tel.) Report that matter of British delivery of planes to Canton Information that the difficulties encountered by American 1027 1027 PROTECTION OF TITLE DEEDS TO REAL PROPERTY OF AMERICANS IN CHINA 1931 Feb. 18 (814) Feb. 26 (407) Mar. 27 (172) Apr. 6 (129) From the Minister in China Transmittal of a despatch from the Consul General at Shanghai (excerpt printed) reporting a decision of the High Court of Kiangsu excluding Americans and other foreigners (except possibly missionaries) from holding perpetual leases on land outside the definitely prescribed limits of treaty ports and foreign settlement areas. Opinion that such decision will lead to difficulties unless the extraterrioriality agreement provides a definite safeguard for such property rights. To the Minister in China Instructions to advise American consular officers in China, except the Consul General at Shanghai, to take no further steps toward the issuance of title deeds to property in China in the name of an American citizen unless satisfied that there is substantial American interest in the property. Advice, however, that the International Settlement and the French Concession at Shanghai should come under a uniform practice established by all the powers concerned. From the Minister in China (tel.) From Hankow: Information that vernacular newspapers have published a proclamation by the Municipal Government requiring the submission of "white deeds" for stamping before April 1 or the imposition of a fine; request for instructions, as owners of white deeds hesitate to submit them. To the Minister in China (tel.) Advice that foreign land titles and fees on land transactions are questions being considered in the extraterritoriality negotiations and that American holders of white deeds must act, meanwhile, on their own judgment, but that if fees on previous land transactions are not involved, American purchasers would be wise to obtain red deeds when the procedure is based on reasonable Chinese legislation. 1028 1028 1030 1031 CHINA PROTECTION OF TITLE DEEDS TO REAL PROPERTY OF AMERICANS IN CHINA Date and number Continued Subject Page 1931 June 8 (507) Nov. 5 (1248) To the Minister in China Advice that the recent action of the Chinese in withdrawing from foreigners the privilege to purchase land at Mokanshan constitutes no valid ground for protest; instructions, however, to report any impairment of existing American property rights as a result of the regulations. From the Minister in China Information from the Consul General at Shanghai that his colleagues are not, at the present time, disposed to effect any change in the procedure for the issuance of consular title deeds at Shanghai, as the matter is closely connected with the credit and finance situation. 1032 1033 OF AMERICAN CLAIMS OUTSTANDING AGAINST CHINA To the Minister in China (tel.) Instructions to inform the Chinese Government, if considered advisable, that the American Government desires to cooperate but cannot assent to the tentative plan for settlement of claims against China (as set forth in Minister's telegram No. 997, November 21, 1930) until informed of the treatment to be accorded to the total outstanding obligations owed to American interests. Inquiry as to possible attitude of Chinese Government toward a Sino-American claims commission. From the Minister in China (tel.) Understanding that the Foreign Ministry desires as complete a list of contractual obligations as possible with a statement of sums due. Information that the attitude of other governments toward the Chinese tentative plan has not been determined. From the Minister in China (tel.) 1034 1035 1036 Opinion that it would not be premature to request statements from American creditors, as, until these statements are prepared, no further discussion can be carried on with the Finance Minister. Jan. 16 (27) From the Minister in China (tel.) 1036 Information that Dr. Wang Chung-hui, Chairman of the Mar. 7 From the Minister in China (tel.) 1037 Proposal of an agreement for a claims commission to the Foreign Minister, who felt that his Government would object but desired to consider the matter. Mar. 7 Memorandum by the Minister in China 1037 Discussion with Foreign Minister regarding the claims arising from damage to American property at Changsha in 1930; Chinese position that Government was not liable for damage done by rebels. (Footnote: Information that the Foreign Minister subsequently refused to reconsider the matter.) CHINA EFFORTS FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF AMERICAN CLAIMS OUTSTANDING AGAINST CHINA-Continued Date and number Subject Page 1931 Apr. 13 From the Minister in China (tel.) 1038 Information from the Foreign Minister that Wang Chunghui is not agreeable to a claims commission and that an official proposal would receive a negative response. May 7 (173) May 23 (294) July 16 To the Minister in China (tel.) Suggestion that the attention of the Chinese authorities be called to certain points relating to Department's draft protocol setting up a claims commission (transmitted in despatch No. 1467, February 3, 1930), emphasizing that the work of the proposed commission would be what the Chinese Government apparently desires, namely, the clarification of its position with respect to all foreign obligations. From the Minister in China_(tel.) Conversation with the Foreign Minister, who stated his Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs Informal statement read to the Chargé in reply to his recent Undated To the Chinese Legation July 30 (472) Dec. 10 (643) Text of the informal statement read and handed to the From the Minister in China (tel.) Reuter's report from Shanghai: Information that the Minister of Finance published a warning that the bonds issued by Canton rebels and secured on customs revenue would not be recognized in any way by the Government as having claim on national funds. To the Minister in China Draft of a proposed claims convention between the United States and China (text printed) to be used as a basis for further discussions, and offering proposals to overcome Chinese objections to the former draft. 1038 1039 1040 1041 1041 1042 |