File No. 893.51/692a.
The Secretary of State to the American Minister.
Washington, December 12, 1911.
This Government has informed the British and German Governments, in response to their inquiries, that it is not disposed to oppose a small loan at this time to China to pay current expenses until conclusion of peace negotiations, provided the loan be upon clearly understood conditions of neutrality such as proposed by the British authorities it would be still more of this attitude if the loan were made broadly international. Furthermore such financial assistance should be in connection with some general plan by all interested powers for the protection of the common interests in China. At the present juncture the Department attaches special importance to the two above-stated principles.