File No. 1571/27.
The Secretary of State to Chargé Fletcher.
Washington, January 11, 1910.
Sir: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your No. 1301, of November 23, 1909, on the subject of the Whangpoo conservancy.
The department agrees with the view expressed by Sir John Jordan, the British minister, that it was the intention of the powers to suspend the provisions of the final protocol by the agreement of 1905, and in case China fails to carry out her agreement the provisions of the 1901 protocol may be enforced. The department is disposed, however, to acquiesce in your belief that a revival of the cumbersome and ineffective provisions of the 1901 protocol would be perhaps imprudent and impracticable.
I am, etc.,