CHINA EFFORTS FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF AMERICAN CLAIMS OUTSTANDING AGAINST CHINA-Continued 1936 Jan. 30 Mar. 5 (110) Mar. 7 (52) Mar. 7 (113) Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs From the Ambassador in China Efforts to secure for Ault and Wiborg Co. a settlement of outstanding indebtedness incurred by the Chinese Bureau of Engraving and Printing at Peiping. (Footnote: Information that Chinese Ambassador on October 5, 1937, reported that the Bureau was unable then to take up matter of payment.) To the Ambassador in China (tel.) Request for additional information regarding a commission, appointed by the National Government and headed by the Finance Minister, for the readjustment of domestic and foreign loans. From the Ambassador in China Page 576 577 579 Mar. 12 (127) Mar. 14 (54) Apr. 1 (54) Apr. 5 (115) Apr. 7 (186) Apr. 9 579 Discussion of the Chinese attitude against setting up a From the Ambassador in China (tel.) 582 List of persons designated by the Chinese Government as members of the reorganized commission mentioned in No. 52 of March 7, which was repeated to Nanking. From the Counselor of Embassy in China (tel.) 582 Advice of reorganized loan committee's intention to work on plans to meet bond issue debts and not on China's entire indebtedness. 583 Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Far Eastern Discussion concerning the Hukuang loan and possible pro- To the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (tel.) Instructions to confer with the Foreign Office on views of Discussion of the loan matter with Foreign Office officials, Memorandum by Mr. Raymond C. Mackay of the Division of Chinese Ambassador's informal presentation of certain 584 586 587 1936 Apr. 11 (123) To the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (tel.) 588 589 Apr. 11 Apr. 16 (209) Memorandum by the Under Secretary of State Cabled information that prominent Shanghai Chinese believe liquidation of claims of material American creditors would be greatly facilitated if the American Government should express interest at this time and designate Mr. Forbes, previously head of Far East economic mission, as an executive of the ExportImport Bank. From the Consul General at Shanghai (tel.) Information relative to efforts of the Chinese Government to service various loans and to reorganize the Central Bank of China along the lines of the Federal Reserve Bank. 589 Apr. 18 (212) From the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (tel.) 590 Informal communication of Department's views to British official in accordance with instructions in No. 123 of April 11, and advice that Leith-Ross served merely as adviser in the loan negotiations. 590 To the Consul General at Shanghai (tel.) Acknowledgment of information contained in No. 209 of Apr. 22 (111) May 1 (239) From the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (tel.) May 5 (245) May 12 From the Consul General at Shanghai (tel.) May 19 June 26 (161) July 16 (578) Unwillingness of British Treasury to assume responsibility for making any suggestions to British bondholders regarding settlement of Tientsin-Pukow and Hukuang loans. Compliance with instructions in No. 111 of April 22. Conversation with the Commercial Secretary of the British Report by Mr. Abbott that due to dissatisfaction with the offer made by the Chinese Government for an adjustment of the Chicago Bank Loan contract, the matter will be taken up by the Foreign Bondholders Protective Council. To the Ambassador in China (tel.) Information regarding proposed cooperation of the British Committee in an effort to obtain for holders of Hukuang bonds terms which are at least equal to those offered in connection with the Tientsin-Pukow loan. From the Ambassador in China Conversation with the Adviser to the Chinese Minister of Finance, who regretted the misunderstanding regarding the Hukuang Loan Agreement which he stated had the same provision as that in the Tientsin-Pukow Railway agreement for a contingent lien upon the Customs revenues. 591 591 592 593 593 594 CHINA EFFORTS FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF AMERICAN CLAIMS OUTSTANDING AGAINST CHINA-Continued Date and number 1936 Aug. 24 (246) To the Ambassador in China Sept. 5 (252) Sept. 15 (223) Sept. 17 (269) Opinion that in view of improved financial condition of the Peiping-Hankow Railway the monthly payments to creditors should be increased; and discretionary instructions to press the matter. (Footnote: Ambassador's report that policy recommended above has been pursued for the last year.) To the Ambassador in China Advice of reported Chinese settlements with British and Japanese holders of the Russian issue of Chinese Loan of 1913; discretionary instructions to approach authorities to obtain terms no less favorable for American holders of the issue. To the Ambassador in China (tel.) Instructions to arrange an early interview with the Finance Minister to present orally the American Government's hope that the Chinese Government will give sympathetic consideration to the Foreign Bondholders Protective Council's_new proposals for equitable settlement terms for the Chicago Bank Loan. From the Counselor of Embassy in China (tel.) Assurance from the Finance Minister that careful consideration would be given the new proposals for settlement of the Chicago Bank Loan. 595 596 597 Oct. 4 From the Ambassador in China (tel.) 598 Information relative to negotiations for the adjustment of 599 Compliance with instructions in No. 252 of September 5. Nov. 6 (840) Dec. 1 (74) Authorization to cooperate informally with colleagues, but to take no lead, in endeavoring to persuade the Chinese Government to retain foreign participation in the administration of the Salt Gabelle. (Footnote: Assurance from Vice Foreign Minister, following British and U. S. informal representations, that nothing would be done to impair Salt Administration efficiency.) 600 REPRESENTATIONS BY THE UNITED STATES AGAINST THE ESTABLISHMENT OF MONOPOLIES IN CHINA Information concerning the proposed match monopoly and intention, in line with treaty provisions, to withhold support from an American company in its effort to obtain favorable concessions from the monopoly group. From the Ambassador in China Comments relative to the slight British financial interest involved in the proposed match monopoly and a request for advice regarding the extent to which opposition to the monopoly should be continued. 600 602 CHINA REPRESENTATIONS BY THE UNITED STATES AGAINST THE ESTABLISHMENT OF MONOPOLIES IN CHINA-Continued Date and number Subject Page 1936 Mar. 28 (67) To the Ambassador in China (tel.) 603 Concurrence with expressed intention to take no further step relative to the match monopoly unless necessary for emphasis of the American Government's opposition to monopolies. May 19 (250) From the Ambassador in China (tel.) 603 May 22 (124) 604 From Shanghai: Report of a proposal for a Chinese Government tobacco leaf monopoly which if adopted would vitally affect American leaf trade. To the Ambassador in China (tel.) Instructions to initiate thorough investigation and to approach the appropriate Chinese authorities regarding the proposed tobacco leaf monopoly and the reported intention of the Chinese Government to increase duties applicable to imported leaf tobacco; also to discuss the matter with British colleague. To the Consul General at Shanghai (tel.) Instructions to repeat certain reports, relative to a proposed vegetable oil refinery, to Peiping and Nanking; also to indicate Department's desire that thorough investigation be initiated and appropriate steps taken to safeguard American interests. From the Ambassador in China (tel.) From Nanking, May 28: Confirmation of Chinese Government's plan for leaf tobacco monopoly and proposal to raise the import duty on leaf tobacco. Advice of Embassy's written protest and British Embassy's informal oral representations against the monopoly. From the Ambassador in China (tel.) Observations concerning the proposed vegetable oil monopoly; and opinion that the Chinese Government has embarked on a policy of controlling production and sale of a number of important commodities in an attempt to benefit the industries and develop attractive revenues for the Government. From the Ambassador in China (tel.) Reports from the Consuls General at Nanking and Hankow to the effect that the Chinese Government actually contemplates monopoly control of the wood oil business; and intention of Embassy to file written protest against the monopoly similar to the protest against the tobacco leaf monopoly. To the Ambassador in China (tel.) Approval of written protest to Chinese Government regarding the proposed wood oil monopoly, and suggestion that colleagues concerned may wish to lodge similar formal protest. From the Ambassador in China Report concerning various conversations between Foreign Ministry officials and Consuls General in an effort to effect a substantial modification of the vegetable oil monopoly scheme. From the Ambassador in China Rumors of the Government's tungsten monopoly; and evidence that the Commercial Attaché at Shanghai has been assisting one of the monopoly organizations to make contacts in the United States. (Footnote: Department's approval of Embassy's letter to the Commercial Attaché regarding his assistance to a monopoly organization, and instructions to request that he refrain from further activity.) 605 605 606 608 609 609 610 CHINA REPRESENTATIONS BY THE UNITED STATES AGAINST THE ESTABLISHMENT OF MONOPOLIES IN CHINA-Continued 1936 Aug. 20 (659) From the Ambassador in China Foreign Office note, July 25, containing assurance that no restrictions will be imposed upon legitimate commerce in tung oil and other oil products. Embassy's instructions to Peck, Counselor of Embassy, to obtain a detailed interpretation of the scheme before making further formal communications to the Foreign Office. From the Ambassador in China Page 612 Sept. 4 (692) 613 Failure of Peck, in a conversation with an Executive Yuan official, to secure assurances desired by tung oil merchants; and advice of new note to the Foreign Office." Sept. 9 (216) 615 Sept. 12 (443) Sept. 17 (268) Sept. 20 (457) Sept. 25 (463) To the Ambassador in China (tel.) Instructions to investigate and take appropriate steps in the matter of a proposal, reportedly sanctioned by the Finance Minister, for the formation of a semi-official company for the purchase and sale of leaf tobacco crops. From the Ambassador in China (tel.) Advice of transmittal of No. 216 of September 9 to Shanghai From the Counselor of Embassy in China (tel.) Information from Shanghai regarding proposed semi-official From the Ambassador in China (tel.) Difficulties of an American leaf tobacco company in attempts to purchase leaf tobacco at Hsuchang, Honan; and instructions to Nanking to call this interference to the attention of the Foreign Office, requesting cessation of such discrimination. From the Ambassador in China (tel.) 615 616 617 619 Sept. 25 (464) 620 Advice that Japanese at Nanking delivered a verbal protest against the proposed leaf tobacco monopoly. Oct. 7 From the Ambassador in China 621 (763) Advice of instructions to Peck to bring to the attention of the Chinese authorities the granting of exclusive rights to a Chinese tobacco company to manufacture mentholated and anisated cigarettes. Oct. 12 (495) 622 Oct. 24 (513) From the First Secretary of Embassy in China (tel.) Foreign Office instructions to the Honan Provincial Government to permit American merchants to purchase leaf tobacco, and semi-official assurance from the Director of the Political Department of the Executive Yuan that the project for a leaf tobacco monopoly in Honan Province has been dropped. From the Ambassador in China (tel.) Continuing obstructions to American leaf tobacco business at Hsuchang despite assurances to contrary; and protests to Honan Provincial authorities. 622 |