File No. 763.72/3549
The Minister in China ( Reinsch) to the Secretary of State
[Received 6.35 p.m.]
After the breach of diplomatic relations with Germany had been consummated on March 14 the Minister for Foreign Affairs handed me note verbale enumerating the following desiderata:
- 1.
- Suspension of Boxer installments for 10 years.
- 2.
- The immediate imposition of a surtax of 50 per cent on the present import duty; thereupon a revision of the tariff, so as to [Page 421] produce an effective 7.5 per cent duty; and finally after the abolition of likin, the customs régime of the MacKay treaty.
- 3.
- Cancellation of the provisions of 1901 protocol relating to Legation guards and to exclusion of Chinese troops from Tientsin.
- An identical statement was given to the Entente powers and neutrals.
In a later conversation about this the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Premier stated that the Chinese Government proposed these measures as due to China from nations desirous to strengthen her position and not as conditions for entering the war. He stated that China was continuing to associate herself with the policy of the United States as was shown by the fact that direct notice of her impending action was given at their capitals to all the powers above mentioned and that relations had not been broken off with Austria-Hungary.
He then asked me whether the attitude of the American Government toward China was still the same as on February 8. I replied that the situation had of course been modified through China’s entering pourparlers with the Entente powers, looking toward a policy different from that of the United States. He stated that the Chinese Government had kept its hands entirely free; that while there was a party favoring cooperation with Japan, they had by no means convinced the Government; that pourparlers had been caused by the urgent advances from the other side which required a reply, and that the entire formal action of China accorded with that of the United States. He also said that should the American Government now abandon interest in China, the Chinese Government would be driven into the arms of Japan, and again asked me whether our attitude had changed. I replied that if the Chinese Government had at the first suggestion from the Allies stated unequivocally that her position being similar to that of the United States she was following the same policy, there would have been no occasion for a change; that the good will of the United States persisted, but it is natural the American Government should feel a less keen interest in a measure as China relied on others; that however there was no intention of abandoning China; on the contrary if the Chinese Government should act with circumspection, the American Government would as heretofore exert itself to protect the independent position of China, to encourage sound loans, and to assist China to get representation in the peace conference. In this sense also I promised to suggest to you favorable consideration of the desiderata above mentioned with regard to import duty and Boxer indemnity.