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

File No. 893.01/107

Minister Reinsch to the Secretary of State

[Telegrams—Extracts]

American Legation,
Peking, May 24, 1916, 11 p.m.

Resignation of President Yuan is believed to be impending. It has been intimated to me from him that should he resign he is likely to request the hospitality and protection of the American Legation as he prefers to go to United States rather than to Japan whose protection has been offered him. If thus appealed to, in my opinion, no alternative but to afford asylum and to protect transit to a seaport.

Reinsch