Washington, May 16.
Mr. Cordell Hull, Secretary of Slate, to-day announced that Presid~ ent Roosevelt had approved of the elevation of the American Legation in China to the status of an embassy.
Mr. William Phillips, Under-Secretary of State, to-day denied reports that the United States was moving Legation from Peiping to Nanking.
He admitted, however, that the American Government had leased a. piece of ground in Nanking. but he said it was for the- construction of several buildings to house the diplomatic and consular officials stationed the Chinese capital—Reuter.
This would be welcomed, he added, were. spontaneous, but Japan would not use persuasion in this con-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.