File No. 893.77/1570
The Secretary of State to Minister Reinsch
Washington, December 7, 1916.
Sir: The Department has received your despatch No. 1252 of October 31, 1916, with its enclosures, relative to the protest of the Russian Government against the construction, with the aid of American engineers and capital, of a railway from Fengchen to Ninghsia.
The Department shares your opinion as to the bearing on American enterprises in general in China of the Russian protest, and by reference to the Department’s telegram of November 2, 1916, it will be observed that the Department does not recognize any exclusive rights of Russia in the territory concerned and that notice is given that all American rights are specifically reserved.
I am [etc.]