File No. 315/227.
Ambassador White to the Secretary of State.
Paris, June 10, 1909.
Acknowledges telegram of June 9, 7 p.m., and says he has just had interview with the minister of foreign affairs, but that his note, though marked urgent and delivered yesterday, had not yet reached him. Says that he read the minister a paraphrase of department’s instruction of June 7, 7 p.m., and that the minister said:
Why did not your Government let the other Governments know of Chinese assurance of 1904 before the signature of railroad loan agreement, negotiations for which have been in progress for months past between certain French, British, and German financiers, and to which, when completed, the three Governments gave their assent?
To which he added that he would have been very glad to see American participation in loan, but he feared the only way now for us to [Page 157] do so would be to come to an understanding with the financiers concerned in it. Says that general conversation on lines of department’s telegram of June 9, 7 p.m., then ensued. The minister concurred in department’s view as to desirability of sympathy and cooperation between powers interested in open door and integrity of China; but with regard to suggestion in final paragraph of telegram he feared the agreement signed last Sunday, while only immediately affecting Hupeh portion, provided for the entire line in respect to which it is to become progressively operative. The minister was, however, vague as to details, but promised to inform himself accurately before Saturday next, when Mr. White is to see him again at 11.30. The minister several times repeated regret at not having known before of the Chinese promise, and concluded by suggesting that the agent of American financial group now coming to Europe had better approach those concerned in loan in Paris and elsewhere over whom respective Governments now have no direct control, having merely approved arrangement made by them.