711.933/148: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in China (MacMurray)
329. Your 865, October 7, 3 p.m.
1. The Department understands that the proposal is for individual and not for identic notes.
2. For the American note, I approve the substance of the draft submitted, with the exception of the last paragraph. I feel, however, that you might advantageously edit or rephrase this draft. I feel, for instance, that the clause “in spite of the claims on which Your Excellency lays so much stress in your note under reply” should be deleted.
With regard to the last paragraph, I offer for the American note the following: [Page 609]
“However, assuming that the Chinese Government has not failed to take into consideration the main points set forth in my note of August 10, and wishing as far as possible to meet the wishes of the Chinese Government, my Government is prepared to enter into negotiations directed toward the objective indicated in the last paragraph of that note.”
3. You may state in a separate communication that I feel moved to suggest that the negotiations be held in Washington; that I shall be willing to enter upon discussions whenever the Chinese Government finds it convenient; but that I should like to defer entering upon the formal stages of the negotiation until I shall have had the benefit of the presence here of the American Minister to China, yourself, who will soon be ordered to come to Washington for purposes of consultation.