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

File No. 893.01/60.

The Secretary of State to Minister Reinsch.

[Telegram.]

Department of State,
Washington, December 21, 1915.

Your telegram of December 18. When Empire is proclaimed, if no serious organized opposition exists and you see no other reason to doubt permanence of new order, you are instructed to recognize new Government of China and say that, while the Government of the United States may feel a natural sympathy for republican forms of government which fulfill the hopes of the people of other countries, we recognize right of every nation to determine form of its government and that the people of China have our good wishes for undisturbed peace and prosperity.

Lansing.