125.643/49: Telegram
The Chargé in China (Perkins) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 11—9:28 a.m.]
698. Legation’s 692, September 6, 10 p.m.
- 1.
- Following from Shanghai:
“September 10, 5 p.m. This morning, accompanied by Admiral Stirling and Spiker, I called on C. T. Wang who accepted, without demur, programme embodying features proposed by Minister Mac-Murray in March last, this including full military ceremonies with guards of honor. Copy of typed memorandum of ceremonies supplied to Minister Wang will be transmitted to Legation by mail tomorrow. Wang again referred to dignified ceremony in proper setting and stated date will be fixed for September 25th or thereabouts depending upon progress of repairs.
2. It is requested that message from Minister or Chargé d’Affaires to be delivered on day of ceremony be promptly transmitted to this office.”
- 2.
- Reuter’s, Shanghai, September 10th, carries report giving substantially the arrangements described by Cunningham but fixing the date as October 1st. The release has not been authorized by the Legation which is inquiring of Cunningham how this report became public. Since, however, the general arrangements contemplated have thus become public, the Legation perceives no reason for withholding from the press general confirmation thereof. It is hoped that this premature disclosure will not afford an occasion for Chinese extremists to make political capital by raising objections to the carrying out of the arrangements made.