The Secretary of State to the German Ambassador.
Washington , October 15, 1906 .
Excellency: Referring to your note of the 12th May and to this department’s acknowledgment thereof of the 30th June, I have the honor to inform you that this Government has given careful consideration to your request to withdraw the objection heretofore raised to article 25 of the project for the protection of trade-marks in China prepared by the representatives at Peking of Germany, France, Italy, Austria-Hungary, and Great Britain.
This Government is prepared to make this withdrawal on the understanding that the German Government and the other Governments above named shall agree to the addition to article 7 suggested by you, viz: “the right of priority shall extend only to such trademarks as have been registered in a foreign country after the going into effect of the law.”
You state that the German Government would offer no objection to this addition, and it is to be presumed that it would be equally unobjectionable to the other powers. You are requested to advise your Government that upon the acceptance of the above modification of the regulations formulated by the representatives of Germany, Austria-Hungary, France, Great Britain, and Italy, this Government will at once adhere thereto and will so advise the American minister at Peking.
Accept, Excellency, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration.