893.51/3130: Telegram
The Minister in China (Crane) to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received December 15—4 a.m.]
435. At meeting of the four consortium Legations, Japanese Minister made a plea for publication of consortium documents already communicated to Chinese Government, and stated that American and French Governments had given their consent thereto. British Minister expressed view of his Government that time was perhaps inopportune in view of China opposition to consortium, and as consortium was now regarded and discussed more as a commercial than as a political question. It was agreed to defer further consideration of the matter until the Chinese Government had made a request to see the texts of the consortium agreement and resolutions referred to in last paragraph my 433, December 13th, 10 p.m. Do you wish to make condition of acceptance by American Government of publication proposal the inclusion of American texts of documents referred to in your 364, December 9th, 6 p.m.? Believe that much of the feeling against the consortium is due to lack of frankness toward Chinese public, and that advantage should be taken of Japan’s new attitude, especially in view of Stevens’40 early arrival.
- Frederick W. Stevens, appointed by the American group as its representative at Peking.↩