File No. 893.51/807c.

The Acting Secretary of State to the American Ambassador to France.

[Telegram.—Paraphrase.]

Owing to the very important financial interests of Belgium in China, the Belgian Minister is instructed to make application for Belgian participation. The following is the text of the Department’s proposed reply:

The Government of the United States has long favored the principle of broadly international participation in loans to China and upon the completion of arrangements now being discussed by the bankers and the Governments of the four groups with Russia and Japan, and subject to the exigencies of pending negotiations with China, would be entirely disposed to join in the consideration of any question of the introduction of Belgian capital in connection with these matters.

The American Government has, however, consistently held that the manner of such participation was primarily one to be determined by the financial groups in consultation with their respective Governments.

You will consult with the Minister for Foreign Affairs as to the nature of the intended reply of the Government to which you are accredited, and invite any comments on the Department’s proposed reply.

Repeat to embassies at London and Berlin.

Huntington Wilson.