893.51/2386a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in China (Reinsch)
You will please take advantage of the first possible opportunity to obtain an authoritative and final agreement from the Government of China in the following sense, the phraseology of which you will sagaciously [sic] transpose in view of the cipher:
Will the Government of China agree to negotiate exclusively with an international banking group composed of bankers of the United States, England and France, but from which groups composed of the nationals of other countries will not necessarily be excluded in the future, for all loans of a character specified in the correspondence pertaining to the proposed International Consortium?
You will please discuss the matter orally and arrive at a definite answer. If you are able to obtain an affirmative answer you will [Page 482] then exchange formal but confidential notes. You will then forward the original note in the first safe pouch and immediately cable the result of your efforts maintaining care to avoid mention of names or to quote from the note but simply indicating the result.
You will immediately recognize the necessity for quick and careful treatment which should not only be held within your own conscience but which should be impressed firmly on the official with whom you will confer.
You may intimate that if this effort is successful there may be some hope of alleviating the financial needs of China which are well appreciated.