Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Address of the President to Congress December 5, 1916

File No. 893.001Y9/23

Minister Reinsch to the Secretary of State

No. 1120

American Legation,
Peking, June 14, 1916.

Sir: In conformity with the Department’s telegraphic instructions directing the Legation to convey the sympathy of the Government of the United States, and of the Secretary of State, to the Chinese Government on account of the death of His Excellency Yuan Shih-kai, I have the honor to enclose herewith the translation of a note of the 9th instant which I directed to his excellency Tsao Ju-lin on this subject.

There is also enclosed herewith the Foreign Office’s reply of June 10, requesting the Legation to inform the Department of the sincere gratitude offered by it.

I have [etc.]

Paul S. Reinsch

[Inclosure 1—Translation]

Minister Reinsch to the Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs

No. 460

American Legation,
Peking, June 9, 1916.

Excellency: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your excellency’s note of June 6, 1916, informing me of the sad death of His Excellency Yuan Shih-kai, President of the Republic of China, at 10 a.m., on June 6.

Upon receipt of your excellency’s note I sent a telegram to my Government, and have now received an instruction directing me to convey to your excellency’s Government the deep regret and sincere sympathy of the Government of the United States and of the Secretary of State.

I avail [etc.]

Paul S. Reinsch

[Inclosure 2—Translation]

The Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs to Minister Reinsch

No. 481

Foreign Office,
Peking, June 10, 1916.

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note No. 460 of June 9, 1916, stating that you had sent a telegram to your Government announcing the death of His Excellency President Yuan Shih-kai, and that you had received a reply directing you to convey to this Government the deep regret and sincere sympathy of the Government of the United States and of the Secretary of State. You were also good enough to call at the Ministry to offer condolences on behalf of your Government, for all of which we are deeply grateful.

I have the honor now to send this reply to express the sincere gratitude of my Government, and to request that you will be so good as to inform your Government and the Secretary of State.

With compliments,

[Seal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs]