793.94/1266: Telegram
The Minister in China (Schurman) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 27—6:47 a.m.]
28. Your telegram 10, January 22, 3 p.m. My January 24, 4 p.m. Balfour’s telegram to Alston arrived yesterday and delivered immediately. Alston saw Minister of Foreign Affairs this morning. He presented case by reading Balfour’s telegram with comments and he emphasized unexpectedly good terms and contrasted consequences to China of acceptance or rejection. Minister of Foreign Affairs said while he and also President of the Republic were in favor of acceptance Chinese people would not be satisfied with period so long as five years. Alston replied the difference was nothing in an issue so vast and vital.
As soon as Alston left me I called up Foreign Office for earliest possible appointment with Yen. He had Cabinet meeting this afternoon and appointment was fixed at 5:30. I have just returned from this interview after stopping to report to Alston.
Yen confirmed announcement President had yesterday granted Premier sick leave for seven days and that Premier has gone to Tientsin. Yen added in reply to my inquiry that he did not think [Page 946] Premier would resume office. Yen is appointed Acting Premier beginning tomorrow. He presided at Cabinet meeting today as senior member. Recalling his conversation President’s tea I said his appointment made [as] Acting Premier would enable him to settle the Shantung question in the best interests of China, that he had an opportunity to render his country memorable service and that it must be done now or never. He renewed inquiry if further concessions could not be secured and I replied that it was absolutely impossible, that present proposal was the very last. I added that proposal was vastly better than any of us had ever imagined possible. Dr. Yen said the terms were better than had been expected either by the President or himself.24
I inquired what the Cabinet had done about it. He took from his pocket a paper which he said was the draft of instructions to be cabled to Chinese delegates. First he read to me portions of it and then at my request the whole. He explained that President and Cabinet as well as himself had approved it but that he would not cable it till tomorrow as he intended tonight to show it to some leaders members of an advisory body. Nevertheless, he had, he said, yesterday telegraphed provinces that he would be responsible for foreign policy.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Minister of Foreign Affairs’ draft of instructions was in Chinese carefully written and so far as I could see without erasures. My guess is that it was prepared yesterday and approved by the President and that the Cabinet today adopted it without change.
I did not have to quote the authority of the President, authorized by your telegram January 22, 3 p.m., though I meant doing so today if prospects were unfavorable.
Minister of Foreign Affairs remarking that he would later ask me as a favor to telegraph to the Secretary of State Shantung credentials Chinese delegates to whom also he would telegraph them direct. Copy of these credentials received by Legation subsequent to my visit of this afternoon. I am cabling text separately.
Minister of Foreign Affairs said President Hsu and Cabinet as well as he himself desire to [omission] the President and Secretary of State sincere gratitude for their generous helpfulness.
But for the fact one does not know what a day may bring forth in China I would add my own respectful congratulations.
- Sentence paraphrased.↩