Office of the Historian

500.A4/219a: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Minister in the Netherlands (Phillips)83

Washington, October 4, 1921—3 p.m.

55. Limitation of Armament Conference.

You will immediately address the following note to the Minister for Foreign Affairs:

“Acting under telegraphic instructions from my Government I have the honor to inform your Excellency that the invitation of the President of the United States to the Governments of France, Great Britain, Italy and Japan to send representatives to a Conference to be held in the City of Washington on November 11, 1921, on the subject of Limitation of Armaments, in connection with which Pacific and Far Eastern questions will also be discussed, has been graciously accepted. The Government of China has also been pleased to accept the President’s invitation to participate in the discussion of Pacific and Far Eastern questions.

It is the earnest wish of this Government that with the facilities afforded by a Conference it may be possible to find a solution of Pacific and Far Eastern problems, by a practical effort to reach such common understandings with respect to matters which have been and are of international concern as may serve to promote enduring friendship.

In view of the interest of the Netherlands in the Far East, the President desires to invite your Excellency’s Government to participate in the discussion of Pacific and Far Eastern questions at the Conference, and I have the honor to enclose herewith the tentative suggestions as to the agenda of the Conference, relating to Pacific and Far Eastern questions, proposed by the Government of the United States”.

Agenda as follows:

“Pacific and Far Eastern Questions.

1.
Questions relating to China.
  • First: Principles to be applied.
  • Second: Application.

Subjects: (a) Territorial integrity.
(b) Administrative integrity.
(c) Open door,—equality of commercial and industrial opportunity.
(d) Concessions, monopolies or preferential economic privileges.
(e) Development of railways, including plans relating to Chinese Eastern Railway.
(f) Preferential railroad rates.
(g) Status of existing commitments.

2.
Siberia.
  • (similar headings)
3.
Mandated Islands.

Subject: (a) Electrical Communications in the Pacific.

[Page 77]

Under the heading of ‘Status of Existing Commitments’ it is expected that opportunity will be afforded to consider and to reach an understanding with respect to unsettled questions involving the nature and scope of commitments under which claims of rights may hereafter be asserted.”

Repeat mutatis mutandis Brussels as No. 42 Lisbon 25.

Hughes
  1. See last paragraph for instructions to repeat to Brussels and Lisbon.↩