711.933/159: Telegram
The Minister in China (MacMurray) to the Secretary of State
[Paraphrase]
Peiping, October 25, 1929—5
p.m.
[Received October 25—2:50 p.m.]
[Received October 25—2:50 p.m.]
927. My telegrams 900, October 17, 9 p.m., and 901, October 17, 10 p.m.
- (1)
- Yesterday morning the British Minister conferred with his American, French, Japanese, and Netherland colleagues as a result of instructions from his Government to the effect that it wished to convey to the Chinese its willingness to discuss the possibilities regarding extraterritoriality with them so soon as they indicated the line along which they desire to proceed.
- (2)
- This informal discussion revealed a complete concord among the
Ministers in their personal views, to the effect that:
- (a)
- The Chinese who are in control at Nanking for the time being do not desire our cooperation or negotiations meant to reach a friendly result; for they are counting on using negotiations either to compel a total surrender on extraterritoriality or to put the powers concerned in the wrong for not yielding it;
- (b)
- The powers are in a position, in view of the terms of their notes dated August 10, to demand of the Chinese as a preliminary step that they make some proposal to justify negotiations on matters which otherwise are disposed of by the facts those notes set forth;
- (c)
- Upon the showing made thus far, to consent to begin negotiations to abolish extraterritoriality in any degree or manner would, as a matter of practical fact, mean the beginning of the end of extraterritorial rights;
- (d)
- The only prospect of proceeding, without forcing the pace to the advantage of the Chinese, to a disposal of the broad, general question of extraterritoriality would be through inaugurating the specific question of the Provisional Court at Shanghai, preferably according to scheme (a) (see my 876, October 10, 9 a.m.7); the French and Netherland Ministers are already considering authorization for its support, while the British Minister is still hoping to get his Government to approve it.
- (3)
- Immediately following the above discussion, I received your 342, October 22, 5 p.m.
- (4)
- At once I called on my British, French, and Netherland colleagues, informed them of the Secretary’s views, and promised to give them copies today of the text of the note I have been instructed to despatch to Nanking. I offered, subject to your approval, to hold back until November 1 the note dictated for me, hoping to make possible cooperation to the extent implied in the despatch simultaneously of the several notes. Do I have your agreement to do this?
- (5)
- Assuming the Chinese may not be expected to put forth a proposal, you may consider it desirable to take the initiative in the American note by proposing something concrete (analogous, perhaps, to scheme (a) for the Provisional Court at Shanghai), and this would at once form a basis for the negotiations proposed and a limitation on their scope.
MacMurray