File No. 893.01/44.
Minister Reinsch to the Secretary of State.
Peking, November 1, 1915—9 p.m.
Upon being approached by a representative of the President with a view to ascertain more clearly the purport of the advice offered concurrently with that of the Japanese Chargé d’Affaires, British Minister stated that he had acted under instructions of his Government which had for obvious reasons fallen in with the Japanese suggestion but which should not be understood as being hostile to monarchical movement, being in fact concerned only with the question whether the Government’s purpose could be carried out without endangering foreign interests.
To similar inquiries Russian Minister, who is understood to have acted on his own responsibility, gave it to be understood that he had joined with the Japanese representative in order to assure that his Government would have a voice in any demands or other developments which the Japanese Government might make consequent upon the demarche which it had initiated.