693.003/447: Telegram
The Minister in China (Reinsch) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 2, 9.60 a.m.]
Your instructions September 20, 4 p.m.63 are understood to the effect that if the Chinese Government withholds the payment of the Boxer indemnity during the period stated no objection will be made by the American Government on the condition specified.
The Chinese Government has proposed the assembling of an international commission at Shanghai for the purpose of revising the specific tariff to yield 5 per cent effective as provided by the treaties. I beg to suggest that a commission be designated and that the Commercial Attaché possesses the necessary knowledge of the situation.
Also I beg to query whether or not, as the recomputation of the 5 per cent effective is in essence an administrative act, the consent of the Senate to the determinations of the commission will be required.