393.11/1017
The Minister in China (MacMurray) to the Consul General at Canton (Jenkins)98
Sir: I beg leave to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 870, of September 24, 1929, enclosing a copy of a despatch, of September 18th, from the Commissioner for Foreign Affairs99 requesting that foreigners be warned not to proceed to the interior without first consulting the responsible Chinese authorities. You point out that the attitude of the local authorities in this instance is not unreasonable, but may possibly be carried to the extreme that few foreigners will be authorized to proceed to points in the interior, and request information with regard to the Legation’s attitude in the matter.
In the event that the Americans concerned desire to consult with the local authorities before venturing into the interior, the Legation perceives no objection to their doing so. It is suggested, however, that, in your reply to the local authorities, you should state that the Consulate General should be kept informed of conditions existing in various parts of the interior in order that you may yourself consult with and advise American citizens in regard to travel within your Consular district. It might also be well for you to inform the Chinese authorities that, while you are not disposed to object to American citizens requesting information in regard to conditions, you are unable to admit the right of the Chinese authorities either to authorize or to forbid American citizens traveling to interior points of the country. You might also state that you are prepared to cooperate with the authorities in every way and will exert every effort to see that American citizens are warned of dangerous conditions existing in any part of your Consular district immediately upon receipt of such information from the Chinese authorities concerned.
I am [etc.]