893.44 Sun Yat Sen/23: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in China (MacMurray)
80. Your No. 145, February 26, 5 p.m.86 The Department feels that as the request for the appointing of special representatives to the ceremonies connected with the burial of the remains of Sun Yat Sen has been made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and it would appear that the ceremonies are to be held under the auspices of the Chinese Government, this Government should accede to the request and should appoint a special representative to participate in the ceremonies. The Department would prefer to appoint the Minister in this capacity. If, however, the other Governments represented in China are appointing as special representatives some one other than the Minister, you should so inform the Department.
The fact that Sun Yat Sen was a private citizen at the time of his death87 seems to the Department to have no bearing on the question as it would appear from your telegram that the ceremonies are being conducted under the auspices of the Government.