File No. 893.811/265
The Secretary of State to Minister Reinsch
Washington , August 25, 1917, 5 p.m .
Your August 22, 11 p.m. Dearing and two other officers of the American International Corporation have called at the Department [Page 220] and stated it to be the earnest desire of the Corporation to work in harmony with the policy of this Government and will instruct representative to sign if such action not in conflict with such policy. The Department and Corporation, however, both desire to know whether Chinese are acting freely in thus authorizing cooperation of Japanese with Americans in this enterprise and whether your opinion as to that provision of the contract has changed. How long will Pan Fu remain in office? Approval by Parliament being required, what prospect is there of assembling of a new Parliament?