Senior Consul at Shanghai by the Mayor of that city under date of
April 10, 1934.97 This letter quotes a lengthy communication received
by the Mayor from the Ministry of Navy, which appears to have
devised the whole scheme with a view to acquiring control of pilotage
and other shipping matters to the exclusion of the Chinese Maritime
Customs. In this communication the Ministry named seeks to estab-
lish the right of the Chinese Government unilaterally to abrogate
or alter the General Pilotage Regulations which have long been
enforced with the approval of the interested foreign Powers.
  It is to be noted that this further effort of the Ministry of the Navy
to negotiate this matter through the unusual medium of the Mayor of
Shanghai and the Consular Body in that city has been made while
the matter is being negotiated by the interested Legations with the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs in consultation with the Ministry of
Finance, which is recognized by the Foreign Office as the Chinese
Government organ controlling the whole matter of pilotage.
  In reference to the second paragraph of the Legation's despatch
No. 2674 of April 21, 1934, to the Department, there is enclosed for
the Department's information a copy of Counselor Peck's 98 despatch
No. 283 of April 20, 1934,99 reporting the action taken by him in carry-
ing out the Legation's telegraphic instruction of April 18, 9 a. m.,
in regard to the examination under the approved rules of Apprentice
Pilot C. F. Erbe, an American citizen, whom the Chinese authori-
ties propose to examine for the position of pilot under the new rules
unilaterally established by the Government, with resultant protests
from and non-recognition by the interested foreign Powers.
  Counselor Peck and the American Consul General at Shanghai
have been supplied with a copy of this despatch for their information
and guidance.
  Respectfully yours,                           For the Minister:
                                                      C. E. GAuss
                                            Counselor of Legation

893.825/47: Telegram
    The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State

                                  PEIPING, June 21, 1934-11 a. m.
                                  [Received June 21-5: 26 a. m.]
  258. Reference Shanghai Senior Consul's circular No. 170-3-11 on
May 10, 1934,99 and Legation's despatches No. 2702 of May 3rd and
No. 2770 of June 8th 1 concerning pilots. As stated therein licenses
97Neither printed.
98Willys R. Peck, Counselor of Legation and Consul General at Nanking.
" Not printed.
  Latter despatch not printed.



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CHINA