[Enclosure—Translation]
The Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs
(W. W.
Yen) to the American
Minister (Crane)
[Peking,] October 12, 1920.
No. 48
Sir: Referring to the withdrawal of
recognition from the Russian Minister and Consuls in China I
have the honor to recall that on September 24th, 1920, you
called upon me and handed to me the copy of a telegram received
from your Government,23 the contents of which I have duly noted. I
have the honor to observe that the action of this Government in
thus ceasing to recognize the Russian Minister and Consuls had
no other cause than the fact that those officers had long since
lost their proper qualifications and also their power of
effective action. Under these circumstances in order to [Page 775] avoid difficulties of
all sorts there was no other recourse but to adopt the method
followed, which policy was put into effect in the different
countries of Europe at a much earlier date. A perusal of the
Presidential Mandate of September 23rd24 will show that its terms are most
explicit, evidencing that the withdrawal of official recognition
from the particular persons hitherto acting as Russian Minister
and Consuls is in no way to be confused with a disruption of
other relations arising from the treaties between China and
Russia. The rights and privileges enjoyed by Russian citizens
arising from those treaties have not been totally abolished, nor
has this method been followed as the result of suggestions from
other Russian sources, a fact that I had the honor to
communicate to you orally some time ago. It is noted that the
American Government in its telegram expresses its satisfaction
with the assurance made by the Chinese Government in respect to
these points.
The friendly sentiments entertained by China for Russia at the
present time are in no respect less than before and the rights
and privileges enjoyed by Russian citizens are still among those
to which this Government gives the most zealous protection. My
Government has not the slightest desire to avail itself of this
moment of Russian weakness to cancel without reason or of its
own will to impede in any way the legal and due rights of
Russian citizens vis a vis this
country.
Referring to the assertion that the Chinese Government has
determined to negotiate with the representatives, now in Peking,
of another political faction thus jeopardizing in practice the
enjoyment of those rights relating especially to commercial
matters, I have the honor to state that this statement in no
wise accords with the facts. At the present time no negotiations
have been conducted with the faction in question in regard to
any subject whatsoever and, moreover, my Government is
conducting itself in this regard with the utmost circumspection.
The American Government as regards this point may feel the
utmost confidence.
In communicating these facts to you, Mr. Minister, I have the
honor to express the hope that you will telegraph them to your
Government.
With compliments.
Seal of the Foreign
Office
