File No. 5315/537.
Aide Mémoire.
Washington, October 4, 1909.
Mr. Kroupansky, chargé d’affaires of the Russian embassy, called at the department to-day and was received by Mr. Phillips.
He referred to the attitude of his Government in regard to the recent Chinese loan negotiations, saying that it was in entire sympathy with the position of the United States, and that it would not in this instance insist upon spoiling the present negotiations by asking for participation in the Hupeh-Hunan loan. He said that his Government, however, was conscious of a desire on the part of the British, French, and German groups to stand together in future deals in China, and that therefore, as to all future loans, the Russian Government desired to make known to the United States that it would wish to be a party thereto, believing that its attitude was in pursuance of the policy of the “open door” to which all nations were committed.
Mr. Kroupensky said that his Government desired some expression from the United States to the effect that in the future the United States would do nothing to debar the Russian financial interests from taking an equal part in the loans in China. He asked that we instruct our chargé d’affaires in Peking to this effect and that, should American financial interests in future themselves appear to object to Russian interference, the Government of the United States would make it clear to them the course to be pursued in the matter. Mr. Kroupensky said that France had already been approached on the subject and had given satisfactory assurance to Russia on the above lines.