893.00/4374: Telegram
The Minister in China (Schurman) to the Secretary of State
Peking, May 24,
1922—1 p.m.
[Received May 24—9:24
a.m.]
231. My 229, May 23, 7 p.m.43 American, British, French and Japanese Ministers
have informally discussed the present situation here and are sending the
following identic telegram to their Governments:
- “1. Civil war appears to be nearing an end. Cessation of
hostilities will not resolve the situation. The victorious
Wu Pei-fu is considered to be no politician and declares his
only object is to summon a parliament which should elect a
president and frame a constitution. Meanwhile the
administration is completely disorganized, the treasury
empty, and the worst expedients are resorted to. The first
necessity is therefore finance.
- 2. With the retirement of Chang Tso-lin in the North, and
the setback to Sun Yat-sen in the South, there is a better
prospect of unification and disbandment than
heretofore.
- 3. The above-mentioned Ministers consider the moment
opportune to recommend to their respective Governments that
they be authorized at such time, and in such form, and under
such conditions as circumstances may render expedient to
urge in a friendly manner upon the Chinese Government and
people the putting into effect of the resolution number 9
[10] adopted by the Washington
Conference with respect to the reduction of Chinese military
forces and expenditures44 which, as the preamble thereto
indicated, would contribute
[Page 708]
to political unity, financial
rehabilitation, and an effective and stable
government.
- 4. Such friendly suggestion, if it is to produce results,
should be accompanied by the offer of financial assistance.
This assistance might be given in the first instance on
receipt of satisfactory assurances and subsequently on
actual compliance with the resolution of the Washington
Conference mentioned in the preceding paragraph.
- 5. Consortium Council, London, May 16th, declared
‘administrative loans at present impossible until there is
reasonable prospect of stable government’. The four
Ministers understand this to imply that administrative loans
are possible as soon as reasonable prospect of stable
government appears and they believe such prospect now
exists.
- 6. The four Ministers are of opinion that if they wait for
China to reform herself it means abandoning her to anarchy
and disruption and that even, if their friendly suggestion
is not accepted they will have lost nothing by offering
it.”
