793.003/201: Telegram
The Chargé in China (Perkins) to the Secretary of State
1103. Following from the American Consul at Nanking in reply to the Legation’s request for an expression of his opinion as to the likelihood of the alleged reports unilaterally abrogating extraterritoriality January 1st:
“December 7, 7 p.m. Your December 5, 3 p.m.
- 1.
- I believe that prior to the October outbreak in Honan the Chinese Government was definitely shaping its course towards a unilateral [Page 641] declaration abolishing extraterritoriality on January 1st, 1930. This was evidenced by the abolition of Commissioners of Foreign Affairs, the appointment in September by the Judicial Yuan of preparatory committee to arrange for the assumption by Chinese courts of jurisdiction over foreigners, the hastening of efforts to complete the compilation of the new civil code, repeated and undenied press items purporting to be statements by responsible government officials that extraterritoriality would be abolished on January 1st and the deliberate creation by the Government of a public expectancy that extraterritoriality would be abolished on January 1st.
- 2.
- Now, however, I believe that the Chinese Government is uncertain as to its course with reference to extraterritoriality.
- 3.
- When Minister MacMurray was in Nanking he asked C. T. Wang whether the latter had made a statement that the Chinese Government would undertake to abolish extraterritoriality on January 1st. Wang’s reply was an involved and indefinite explanation. I am reliably informed that Wang has just received from Thomas F. Millard a lengthy written analysis of the extraterritorial question and a strong recommendation that China refrain from attempting the abolition of extraterritoriality by unilateral action on the ground that there is a chance for a treaty with the United States on the subject early next year and that unilateral action would prejudice the chance for such a treaty.
- 4.
- China’s course with reference to extraterritoriality will also be largely influenced by domestic development.
- 5.
- There is serious question as to whether the Government can outlast the year. Yesterday the Government Minister in whose intelligence, honesty, and sincerity I have confidence, told me that he thought that only some lucky accident could save the present government. He remarked that the Pukow mutiny was very serious and had utterly upset Chiang Kai-shek’s plan of campaign in Kwangtung, that Wang Ching-wei is only awaiting the fall of Canton to set up an opposition government there, and that Eugene Chen will head the Ministry of Foreign Affairs new government. He further said that C. T. Wang has been handling negotiations in the Chinese Eastern Railway controversy very largely without reference to the Government and that the disastrous result thus far of these negotiations will most probably force Wang to resign. He said that this was the real reason for Wang’s recent press statement about resignation. What Wang might do with respect to extraterritoriality, as a last official act before resignation, can only be a subject for speculation.
- 6.
- The Government is now quite nervous and some of the Ministers are arranging to place their families in places of safety. I saw Chiang Kai-shek yesterday in his home and he looked worried and ill at ease.
- 7.
- With reference to any steps which China would possibly take to make effective any declaration she may make undertaking to abolish extraterritoriality, I can only say that I believe from observation of the Government here that her course in this respect would be governed by circumspection and opportunism.”
“December 6, 5 p.m. I saw J. B. Powell today and requested him on his own account to ask C. T. Wang what the intention of the Government [Page 642] is with respect to extraterritoriality. Powell tonight gave me the following statement as follows:
“Wang to Powell: If America, Great Britain and France come to some definite understanding with China before January 1st, with respect to negotiations extraterritoriality, China will not take unilateral action. If these nations do nothing in the matter, Chinese public opinion may force the Government unilaterally to declare extraterritoriality abolished. But the whole thing is uncertain because a radical government may be in power very shortly. In the [that] event there will be no question of any negotiations. I might myself be a prisoner now if the Pukow mutineers had shown a little more initiative. When they revolted there was nothing in Nanking to stop them crossing the river and taking possession of the city.”
- Telegram in five sections.↩