893.512/877: Telegram
The Minister in China (MacMurray) to the Secretary of State
828. My telegram No. 823, November 12, 2 [8] p.m. Following note of protest to Nationalist Minister of Foreign Affairs has been telegraphed to consul general at Shanghai for transmission:
“I have the honor to bring to the attention of Your Excellency the illegal seizure and detention at Canton of two American vessels. On October 18th American consul general reported that the so-called Prevention Bureau at Samshui had on October 11th seized two Standard Oil Company lighters and their cargoes alleging that special tax stamps had not been properly affixed on the containers. The lighters which are bona fide vessels flying the American flag were subsequently brought to Canton and there detained. The consul general stated that in his opinion the charges were trivial and without substantial foundation.
Informal negotiations were then undertaken with the local authorities with a view to effecting the release of the two. No satisfaction having been obtained, the Legation on November 7th instructed Consul General Jenkins to file a formal protest with the local government against this illegal seizure. In the face of this protest the Finance Department of the Canton Government has now announced its decision to fine the American company in the amount of $25,000 and confiscate the cargo of the lighters.
Without entering into a discussion of the charges upon which this decision professes to be based (although not even formulated for discussion until the decision was announced) I wish at this time to protest against this arbitrary and illegal action of the Chinese authorities and to ask that the Nationalist Government despatch immediate instructions to Canton for the release of these two American vessels still detained in flagrant violation of American treaty rights. It is of course unnecessary for me to assure you that whatever complaint may be lodged against the American company concerned will receive prompt and appropriate attention by the American authorities.
I avail myself et cetera.”
- Telegram in two sections.↩