File No. 893.77/1552
Minister Reinsch to the Secretary of State
Peking, August 10, 1916.
Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs has informed me that the Russian Minister called upon him day before yesterday and inquired [Page 189] about reported American railway concession, stating that any thereof located outside of the Great Wall would contravene a letter given by the Chinese Government to the effect that Russia was to have the first option on such lines. Minister for Foreign Affairs stated that he knew of no such letter except the one relating to railways north and northeast of Peking, but that he would look up the matter.