Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Address of the President to Congress December 7, 1915

File No. 793.94/351a.

The Secretary of State to Ambassador Guthrie ⁴⁹

[Telegram.]

Department of State,
Washington, May 11, 1915—5 p.m.

Please call upon the Minister for Foreign Affairs and present to him a note textually as follows:

“In view of the circumstances of the negotiations which have taken place and which are now pending between the Government of Japan and the Government of China, and of the agreements which have been reached as a result thereof, the Government of the United States has the honor to notify the Imperial Japanese Government that it cannot recognize any agreement or undertaking which has been entered into or which may be entered into between the Governments of Japan and China, impairing the treaty rights of the United States and its citizens in China, the political or territorial integrity of the Republic of China, or the international policy relative to China commonly known as the open door policy.

“An identical note has been transmitted to the Government of the Chinese Republic.”

Bryan.

49. Mutatis mutandis to the American Legation in China.