File No. 763.72/6466
The Minister in China ( Reinsch) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 15, 8 a.m.]
Following note has just been received from the Foreign Office:
On March 14 last the Chinese Government severed its diplomatic relations with Germany, which fact was duly communicated to your excellency [for] transmission to your Government. As there is no hope of the Central European powers modifying their policy of submarine warfare, a policy contrary to Prussians’ [provisions of] international law and violating the principles of humanity, the Chinese Government has therefore declared that a state of war exists simultaneously between China and Germany as well as Austria-Hungary at 10 o’clock a.m. of the 14th day, 8th month of the 6th year of the Republic of China, and that all the treaties of whatever nature between China and Germany as well as Austria-Hungary are abrogated, as well as all such provisions of the protocol of September 5, 1901, and other similar international agreements as only concern China and Germany and Austria-Hungary. The Chinese Government, however, declares that she will conform to the provisions of The Hague conventions and other international agreements respecting the humane conduct of war.
I have the honor to request your excellency to take note of this communication and be so good as to transmit its contents to your Government.
I avail [etc.]