893.711/85: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 17—7:20 a.m.]
1198. My 1173, October 6, 5 p.m. The following telegram has been sent to the American Consul General at Shanghai, October 17, 4 p.m.
My October 6, 5 p.m., in regard to registration of foreign press. I desire that you inform British Consul General of your October 3, 5 p.m., and my telegram above referred to, and that you seek with him common line of action.
I am uncertain as to exact nature of right of American publishers to transmit their publications through Chinese Postal Service. Assuming publication originated abroad Chinese Postal and Customs Service would conceivably have right to forbid entry within country. Question arises: Does publisher within foreign concession have a greater right to use of Chinese Postal Service than publisher abroad? In this connection I conceive that in the end we will have to devise with the Chinese some compromise arrangement similar to that reached in connection with registration of foreign lawyers.