File No. 893.54/297.
The Acting Secretary of State to the American Chargé d’Affaires.
Washington, September 29, 1911.
Sir: Referring to the Legation’s dispatch No. 249 of May 31, 1911, relative to the inquiry of the French Minister at Peking as to the [Page 177] willingness of the Government of the United States to enter into an arrangement with the French Government for the reciprocal protection of literary and artistic property in China, I have to inform you that the Register of Copyrights, to whom the question was referred, has replied that as the agreement proposed with France is identical with the treaty between the United States and Japan signed May 19, 1908, no obstacles are known to prevent the consideration and conclusion of a similar treaty relating to copyrights between the United States and France.
You are therefore instructed to endeavor to effect such an arrangement by an exchange of notes with the French Legation on the basis of precedents established for the protection of trademarks among foreigners in China. You will also sound the other legations at Peking in regard to the matter, with a view to concluding similar arrangements with their respective governments.
I am [etc.]