893.113/202: Telegram
The Minister in China (Schurman) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 9—11 a.m.]
440. Legation’s 267, September 23, 6 p.m., 1920.71 Following upon an agreement with my British, French and Japanese colleagues the following identic telegram is being forwarded by the four Ministers to their Governments:
“As a result of identic telegram September 23, 1920, representatives of France, Great Britain, Japan and the United States made representations to the Italian Government last December72 under instructions from their respective Governments.
Representatives of four powers in Peking now desire to draw the attention of their Governments to the following facts and to suggest that the matter be brought to the notice of the Washington Conference.
Japanese Minister having ascertained that arms which had been stored in Italian barracks at Shanhaikwan were being handed over to Military Governor of Chihli inquired of Italian Chargé d’Affaires who tried to justify sale on the ground of [that] embargo agreement had not been recognized by his Government in respect of arms contracted for before its adoption.
He considers himself at liberty to dispose of arms until he receives orders to the contrary. It is noteworthy that arms were handed over secretly at [on] nights of November 21st and 22nd. It was ascertained quantity delivered was 80 wagon loads.”
- Foreign Relations, 1920, vol. i, p. 749.↩
- See communications from the Ambassador in Italy: telegram no. 479, Dec. 20, 1920, ibid., p. 754, and despatch no. 262, Jan. 5, 1921, ante, p. 535.↩