861.01/766: Telegram
The Minister in China (Schurman) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 21—7:40 a.m.]
88. My 87, March 21, 11 a.m. My 76, March 12, 11 a.m., last sentence. The following Presidential mandate dated March 20 has just been received:
“Sino-Russian negotiations are very important. Since Dr. C. T. Wang has been in charge, although his ideas and those of the Russian representative have been gradually coming closer and closer, the conditions of the agreement have not yet been completely settled. It is necessary to charge the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with responsibility for taking over this matter and carrying on discussions as rapidly as possible with the Russian representative in order that the responsibility be not divided.”