Minister took the stand that the American Government had not assented to the regulations but was merely informed of them. This Government of course cannot assent to the stand taken by the Japanese Minister as it does not concede that the Japanese Government has ever been granted the right to scrutinize the passports of American citizens within Chinese territory. At the request of the Japanese Minister the American Legation deferred notification to American consuls. The Department is informed however that the Legation has not as yet received any reply from the Japanese Legation to its communication of November 2nd. The Department deeming that sufficient time has passed for this matter to have received the consideration of the Japanese Government, is authorizing the American Legation to notify Consuls in China that American acquiescence in the temporary regulations for the control of passports on Japanese railway lines in China is withdrawn on and after January 15, 1921. You may bring above to the attention of Japanese Foreign Office for its information. DAVIS 894c.111/17: Telegram The Acting Secretary of State to the Minister in China (Crane) WASHINGTON, January 3, 1921—6 p.m. 1. Your 432 [434], December 14, 6 p.m." You may notify Consuls that on and after January 15, our temporary acquiescence in Japanese passport control on railways under Japanese supervision is withdrawn. In view of request of Japanese Minister for postponement of this notification you should inform him of your action in this matter stating that this Government of course is unable to acquiesce in his contention that it did not assent to these regulations inasmuch as this Government does not concede that the Japanese authorities have been granted any right to scrutinize the passports of American citizens in Chinese territory. { With reference to your 343 of October 25, 5 p.m.10 You should inform your British colleague of the action which you have taken in this matter. 'Foreign Relations, 1920, vol. I, p. 41. 10 Ibid., p. 39. DAVIS 894c.111/19: Telegram The Minister in China (Crane) to the Acting Secretary of State PEKING, January 6, 1921—5 p.m. 8. Your 1, January 3, 6 p.m. Japanese Minister informed January 5 as follows: "I am in receipt of instructions from my government to notify the interested American consuls that on and after January 15, 1921, the American Government's temporary acquiescence in the application to American citizens in the South Manchurian railway zone of certain passport regulations of the Japanese Government made temporarily expedient by the conditions of the war is withdrawn. I am furthermore directed to state that the American Government is unable to acquiesce in the view which you expressed to me orally that the American Government did not assent to these regulations but was merely informed of them inasmuch as my government does not consider that the Japanese authorities have been granted any right to scrutinize the passports of American citizens in Chinese territory." Following instructions sent consuls today: "Circular 50. You are informed that on and after January 15th, 1921, the acquiescence of the American Government in the application to American citizens in the South Manchurian railway zone of certain passport regulations of the Japanese Government made temporarily expedient by the conditions of the war is withdrawn." Does your expression "temporary acquiescence in Japanese passport control on railways under Japanese supervision is withdrawn and "passports of American citizens in Chinese territory" include Shantung and Antung Railways? CRANE 894c.111/19: Telegram The Acting Secretary of State to the Minister in China (Crane) WASHINGTON, January 8, 1921-4 p.m. 10. Statements quoted in last sentence of your telegram 8, January 6, 5 p.m., refer to Shantung and Antung Railways. DAVIS 894c.111/21: Telegram The Minister in China (Crane) to the Acting Secretary of State PEKING, January 12, 1921-5 p.m. 22. Your 10, January 8, 4 p.m. To avoid any possible ambiguity I suggest addressing following note to Japanese Minister: "I have the honor to state in amplification of my note[s] of November 2nd and January 5th that the discontinuance after January 15th of my Government's acquiescence in the application to American citizens of certain passport regulations of the Japanese Government applies equally to the Mukden-Antung railway and the Shantung railway outside of the leased territory.' Does Department concur? CRANE 894c.111/25 The Ambassador to Great Britain (Davis) to the Acting Secretary No. 4089 of State LONDON, January 19, 1921. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the Department's telegraphic instruction No. 4 dated January 2[3], 7 p.m.,“ in regard to the acceptance by foreign governments of the Japanese passport regulations in China and to transmit herewith copy of a note No. F 86/70/10 dated January 13, 1921, which I have received from the Foreign Office in this connection. I have [etc.] JOHN W. DAVIS [Enclosure] The British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Curzon) to the American Ambassador (Davis) No. F 86/70/10 His Majesty's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs presents his compliments to the American Ambassador and has the honour to thank His Excellency for his communication of the 6th instant with regard to the acceptance by foreign Governments of the Japanese passport regulations in China. 11 See footnote 5, p. 349. The latest report received from His Majesty's Legation at Peking on the subject is dated October 26th last when Mr. Clive 12 telegraphed that in accordance with his instructions he was joining with his American colleague in making representations to the Japanese Minister on the subject. At that time the French Minister had not so far received his instructions. Earl Curzon is now telegraphing to Sir B. Alston 13 informing him of the action decided upon by the State Department and that the instructions to American Consuls in China will take effect as from January 15th. [LONDON] January 13, 1921. 894c.111/21: Telegram The Acting Secretary of State to the Minister in China (Crane) WASHINGTON, January 20, 1921-7 p.m. 32. Your 22, January 12, 5 p.m. Department approves note. Repeat text to Tokyo advising of Department's approval. DAVIS 894c.111/27 The Ambassador in Great Britain (Davis) to the Secretary of State No. 4134 LONDON, January 28, 1921. SIR: With reference to the Department's telegraphic instruction No. 4. dated January 3, 7 p.m.,1 and to my despatch No. 4089 of January 19th, 1921, in regard to passport control exercised by the Russian and Japanese Governments on the Chinese Eastern and South Manchuria Railways, I now have the honor to transmit herewith copies, in triplicate, of a further Note No. F.256/70/10 dated January 27th, 1921, which I have received from the Foreign Office 14a in this connection. "Robert H. Clive, British Chargé in China, July 1-Dec. 9, 1920. 13 British Minister in China. See footnote 5, p. 349. 14a Not printed. 115367-36-vol. II-23 The Foreign Office state that in consequence of renewed representations made by the American Minister at Peking, a statement has been made by the Japanese Minister that from February 1st, 1921, the passport regulations will be withdrawn for all foreigners in the zone of the South Manchurian Railway, exclusive of the Leased Territory, where passports will continue to be examined at the frontier stations. The Foreign Office add that a communication in this sense will shortly be addressed to the Diplomatic Body at Peking. I have [etc.] JOHN W. DAVIS 894c.111/33: Telegram The Minister in China (Crane) to the Secretary of State PEKING, April 28, 1921—11 p.m. 168. Your 113, April 13, 4 p. m.15 Tsinanfu replies, . . . as regards passport regulations, passports now being required only entering and leaving leased territory, also Americans not questioned on Shantung railway outside leased territory. CRANE FATAL SHOOTING OF LIEUTENANT WARREN H. LANGDON, U. S. NAVY, BY A JAPANESE SENTRY AT VLADIVOSTOK, JANUARY 8, 1921 361.1123 L 25/-: Telegram The Consul at Vladivostok (Macgowan) to the Acting Secretary of State VLADIVOSTOK, January 10, 1921—10 a.m. 4. Referring to shooting Lieutenant Langdon, Japanese consul general has just called to express his profound regret for the sad occurrence. I expressed appreciation and stated I would advise United States Government and Richardson.16 Resolution by the consular corps Wednesday protesting against the Japanese practice of halting foreigners in the streets and other 15 Not printed. 16 Capt. Louis C. Richardson, commanding the U. S. S. Albany. |