861.77/2431: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in China (Schurman)
52. Your no. 60 of February 22, 10 p.m. The Chinese Minister here has received a telegram from the Minister for Foreign Affairs sent after your interview. Further explanation of the suggestions regarding the Chinese Eastern Railway made through you by the American Government was requested. It is our understanding that the Minister in his reply to Peking presents clearly the friendly attitude of our Government in this matter and urges that China act in a manner which is completely in agreement with the suggestions we have made in the latter part of our telegram 22, February 3, 7 p.m.
The Department has been asked by the Japanese Embassy regarding “representations” concerning the Chinese Eastern Railway which you have made to the Chinese Government. In reply the Department has stated that the action you took was merely to convey informally to that Government a friendly suggestion and that in no sense could your action be interpreted as opening the diplomatic interchanges which the Washington Conference had recommended.
Repeat the above paragraph to Embassy in Japan. Do not repeat the first paragraph.