Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, 1920, Volume I

861.77/1493: Telegram

The Ambassador in Great Britain ( Davis ) to the Secretary of State

London , April 28, 1920—6 p.m.
[Received April 28—2:56 p.m.]

695. Your telegram number 425 April 26th 2 p.m. Have discussed matter of Chinese Eastern Railway today with Lord Hardinge Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs who says that in February American Government was approached with proposal:⁴² (a) that control by Inter-Allied Board be continued; (b) that operation be confined to Chinese; (c) that finance be arranged not by Japanese but by consortium. To this American Government has not as yet responded. British Government … does not share the views expressed by Sir Charles Eliot on the general situation, it wishes Inter-Allied Railroad Board continued for the present with ultimate return of road to Chinese in trusteeship for Russian interest.

Davis

42. The proposal appears to have been made orally; see the second paragraph of telegram no. 192, May 17, to the Chargé in Japan, p. 690.