File No. 768.72/995
The Chargé d’Affaires in China (MacMurray) to the Secretary of State
Peking, September 29, 1914, 7 p.m.
[Received 12:20 p.m.]
[Telegram]
The Minister for Foreign Affairs tells me in strict confidence that in support of plea of military necessity on which was based the announcement reported in my telegram of September 29, 3 p.m., the Japanese Minister urged that the railway was in any case subject to seizure by Japan as being German property held under the terms of the convention for lease of Kiaochow. The Minister for [Page 182] Foreign Affairs said that, it was only in connection with railway that this apparent claim to the reversion of German rights in Shantung had been asserted as yet.