893.001 T 78/5: Telegram

The Minister in China (Schurman) to the Secretary of State

346. Your telegram number 220, October 12, 6 p.m. somewhat garbled was decoded October 13, 11 p.m. My telegram 345, October [Page 521] 12, 1 p.m., will have furnished you additional information. The general feeling seems to be that the Chihli Party under Tsao should be given a fair chance to show what they can do. Tsao has followed up assurances of inaugural address reported in my telegram of October 10, 5 p.m., by issuing mandate calling on provisional [provincial] officials to suppress banditry and protect foreigners. He has focused attention of the Chinese on the gravity of the problem of protecting foreigners.

Assurances with respect to other demands of our Lincheng note of August 10th are contained [in] a note from the Foreign Office to be dated October 15th25 the day of the Presidential diplomatic reception which is to be in the hands of the dean of the diplomatic corps this evening. I have this morning seen the draft of it and discussed it with the dean and my British and French colleagues. We agree that it is reasonably satisfactory and should be accepted. I learn that is also the view of the members of the diplomatic body generally. The note accepts the supplementary indemnities in principle which Koo’s earlier note rejected. The proposal of collaboration in the preparation of the railway police scheme is assured by oral understandings between the dean and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs supplementing the vaguer language of the note. As to penalties the note states that the Ministry of War which had been instructed to determine “the punishment” to be inflicted upon Military Governor Tien have decided upon relieving him of his post and that a mandate will be issued to that effect.

Agreement having been reached on the Lincheng we received invitations dated October 13th to attend President’s diplomatic reception October 15, 11 a.m., and it is understood that all Ministers are to attend. I have this morning gone over with the dean and the French Minister the draft of the brief address in which the dean is to present the congratulations of our Governments and of their representatives in Peking. While, as explained in my 328, October 2, 1 p.m.,26 and 336, October 9, 5 p.m.,27 my object and the object of my colleagues all along has been to use the Presidential crisis to secure compliance with our Lincheng demands, it has not been necessary at any time to raise the question of recognition or nonrecognition, the issue being made solely on the point of whether the diplomatic body would or would not agree attend a Presidential diplomatic “reception” to be held at an early date. I must add however that my colleagues assume that unless recognition is specifically refused [Page 522] or withdrawn it will automatically continue. The dean and the French and British Ministers emphatically repeated their views to me this morning. That I think is the unanimous view of the members of the diplomatic body. They regard Tsao Kun’s election as merely bringing about a change of administration. It would seem impossible therefore to avoid the automatic result of recognition without taking positive action to the contrary. And there is no member of the diplomatic body who believes that desirable at present. All with whom I have spoken are confident that Government will approve the course they are taking. Tsao will be recognized and have pretty effective jurisdiction over China between the wall and the Yangtze and even further south. It seems to me very desirable that he and his party should have the good will of the powers in their attempt to govern China.

[Paraphrase.] All the indications are that in case the powers withhold recognition from Tsao Kun Japan will not join them. The Japanese have a special advantage because the Japanese Minister has as yet not been received by any President of China. It would make a great stage effect to have a special diplomatic reception. [End paraphrase.]

I am attending the reception tomorrow morning and trust that you will approve the decision I have taken in the absence of specific instructions for which there is now no time.

Schurman
  1. Note, post, p. 706.
  2. Post, p. 701.
  3. Post, p. 705.