893.51/2385: Telegram
The Minister in China (Reinsch) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 26, 3.30 p.m.]
Hsu En-yuan, who is proceeding to the United States on an official mission, has been authorized by Prime Minister and Minister of Finance to resume negotiations with the Continental and Commercial Bank in relation to the wine and tobacco tax option.13 Prime Minister requests that you advise Abbott of this in order that he may be prepared to resume negotiations on the arrival of Mr. Hsu during [the last week] in September. This is a confidential mission, [not] [Page 521] apparently Hsu’s formal mission, and must not be made public. There is no intention of ignoring the consortium, but in view of uncertainty, as [to] when the consortium will be prepared to do business, and the urgency of China’s financial requirements it is desired to [complete] negotiations with the Continental Bank which can make any arrangements desirable vis à vis the consortium. As this option has continued in force in the face of considerable opposition, it would seem to be a matter in which action is eminently proper.
- See p. 505; also Foreign Relations, 1916, p. 142, art. 9.↩