761.93/154: Telegram

The Minister in China (Crane) to the Secretary of State

341. Your October 21st, 4 p.m. As indicated in my October 11th, 6 p.m. on that date dean of the diplomatic corps addressed note to Foreign Office asking that Minister of Foreign Affairs’ oral statements be confirmed and at the same time suggested that “Provisory modus vivendi be sought for administration [of] Russian interests [Page 774] between Chinese Government and diplomatic body.” No answer [has] been received so that no negotiations have begun for arriving at “modus vivendi” nor do I consider the instructions and view of my colleagues sufficiently clarified that I may at this moment forward “full and clear statements of such proposals as the foreign representatives may have under consideration.” Upon an answer being received from the Foreign Office I shall not fail to inform the Department fully of any preliminary discussions of the diplomatic body so that before any negotiations are begun with the Chinese Government I may receive the Department’s instructions thereon.

Crane