This was part of a consular agreement in which consulates were also opened in Osaka, Sapporo and Nakhodka.

Some countries provide access for consular officials as a matter of courtesy, but do not accept any obligation to do so under international consular agreements.

The affair also added impetus to a new consular agreement with the Soviets the next year.

"Timely notification was not given as required by our consular agreement," she said.

Mr. Wang, who holds a United States green card, is still a Chinese citizen and so is not covered under bilateral consular agreements that would give him access to embassy assistance while in jail.

A consular agreement was signed in 1972.

The American Embassy was not notified of his detention, a violation of consular agreements between Beijing and Washington.

The United States, Australia and Canada have concluded similar consular agreements with the People's Republic of China.

Currently, Montenegro has signed a bilateral citizenship agreement only with Macedonia, but it still abides by the bilateral consular agreement between Yugoslavia and the United States.

The only exception is when a bilateral consular agreement calls for recognition of the expatriate citizenship, regardless of the allegations of Polish citizenship raised by Poland.