861.77 Chinese Eastern/1389: Telegram
The Counselor of Legation in China (Peck) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 17—3:55 a.m.]
50. On March 16, 8 p.m., the Ministry of Foreign Affairs delivered to this office a memorandum dated March 16 enclosing a copy of a declaration in regard to the reported sale of the Chinese Eastern Railway. The translation of the declaration supplied by the Foreign Office concludes with the following paragraph:
“In conclusion, the Chinese Government emphatically declares that the transfer, by sale or otherwise, of the Chinese Eastern Railway, which entirely lies within China’s domain and the status of which is derived from China’s special grant, is considered by the Chinese Government and people as an unlawful transaction without any binding force and further, as an international entity in respect of which the Chinese Government fully reserves its rights.”
Original will be mailed to the Legation today. The complete text has been telegraphed by the Foreign Office to the Chinese Legation at Washington and will be published in the newspapers March 19. Repeated to the Legation.