711.933/82
Memorandum by the Secretary of State
The British Ambassador called and said that his Government had sent him a long telegram about a conference between Sir Miles Lampson, Mr. MacMurray and the Japanese Minister in China which took place on the 12th of July. They are very much troubled over the fear that China will unilaterally denounce the extraterritoriality treaties. As a result of their telegram which they have transmitted to Sir Esme Howard they want to ask me three questions:
- 1.
- How soon can our reply to China on extraterritoriality be sent in?
- 2.
- Is its nature similar with that of the other five powers?
- 3.
- What are our plans in case China denounces the treaty unilaterally?
They think that these six notes should be sent in as promptly as possible and that they should be alike in tenor. I reminded the Ambassador that I had already told him that I believed in sending in the notes simultaneously and that ours would be substantially similar to theirs and that I would get it finished as quickly as possible. I told him the draft was already before me and that unless I changed it it would be generally similar to theirs. If I did change it I would let him know.