393.1123 Lincheng/203: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in China (Schurman)
147. Your number 261 July 16:7 P.M.
With reference to elaborating a program of action in the event of the Chinese Government proving unresponsive to the demands of the Diplomatic Body, the Department cannot but feel that it would be hazardous to present a note containing the minimum demands of the Powers without at least having thoroughly explored beforehand such measures as may seem practicable and capable of exerting the requisite pressure upon the Chinese, although it may not be necessary to go so far as a definite agreement to undertake any specified course of action.
Concerning the organization of a force of railway police, it is not the understanding of the Department that the Chinese Government, because of the organization of such a force, is in any degree to be relieved of its full responsibility for the protection of foreigners traveling on railways, or that foreign officers are to be placed in “supreme command” thereof. With reference to the statements made to you on this subject by the Japanese Chargé and his apparent misapprehension of the British proposals, you are referred to that portion of the Department’s telegram No. 138 July 9:6 P.M., dealing with the conversation between the Japanese Counselor and the Chief of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs on the subject of railway police. In the light of its present information, the Department is of the opinion that there is no essential difference between the British proposals concerning railway police, and the French proposals as outlined by you, the basic idea being that foreign officers are to be employed in association with officials of the Chinese Government in a manner similar to that followed in the Customs and Salt services.
With reference to your telegram No. 257, July 13:10 A.M.,8 it is not the Department’s view that the withdrawal of recognition from the Peking Government would involve withdrawing from Peking the Legations, which would continue to function for the maintenance of de facto relations with the Chinese authorities, for the transaction of business among themselves, for the direction of their respective Consular services, and for the exercise of such protection of their national interests as might be possible under the circumstances.
With reference to your despatch No. 1571, May 29th,9 the War Department, to whom a copy of your despatch was transmitted, has replied— [Page 681]
“The War Department desires to furnish whatever additional troops the State Department may deem necessary during the present emergency in China. If only a small reinforcement is needed and that only for a comparatively short time, then it would probably be advisable to send the third battalion of the 15th Infantry from the Philippines. But if a larger force were needed, or if it appeared likely that the additional troops would have to remain in China for a considerable time, then the reinforcement would probably have to be sent from the United States.
Therefore, should the despatch of reinforcement[s] be deemed necessary, I would ask that formal request be made by the State Department indicating its desire for additional troops and the mission they are to perform.”
In view of these circumstances, the Department is not inclined to request the War Department for the despatch of additional troops at the present time unless you consider reinforcements to be absolutely necessary.