706.6193/3: Telegram

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

230. 1. My number 209, June 30, 11 a.m. Following is synopsis of salient features of considerately and moderately phrased note sent today by dean to Chinese Government replying to its note of June 27.78

2. Representatives of powers signatory to protocol of 1901 affirm their fixed desire not to concern themselves with relations between Chinese and foreign governments but must clearly indicate that agreements between Chinese and Soviet Governments must not [Page 447] weaken or infringe upon undertakings entered into with them individually or collectively by Chinese Government.

3. Special regime of Diplomatic Quarter and international servitudes laid upon Chinese Government and upon representatives of foreign powers resident within the quarter are discussed. Freedom of action of Chinese Government and signatory powers restricted by above, and action can be taken only within the limits imposed thereby and the detailed arrangements which have arisen within past 24 years.

4. This complicated situation which compelled request from the powers in 1920 to assume responsibility for safeguarding real property of Russian Government now obliges them not to hand back this property except to representative of Russian Government by whom they may be preliminarily assured of maintenance of arrangements constituting conventional statute of diplomatic quarter. This should be simple of attainment. These pourparlers not within province of Chinese Government but instrumentality of Minister for Foreign Affairs will gladly be sought in initiating them.

5. The eight Ministers must be notified of name of diplomatic representative officially accredited to Chinese Government by Russian Government, and Minister for Foreign Affairs is requested to ask this representative to put himself directly in touch with them to discuss and determine the matter.

6. This note was drafted at meeting of eight Ministers July 1st but despatch delayed because of absence from Peking of some of them.

7. Department’s 145, July 9, 4 p.m. It is important to bear in mind that neither Karakhan nor anyone else has yet presented credentials to President of China as Ambassador or Minister since Karakhan’s credentials were for the special purpose of concluding an agreement.

8. Foreign powers recognize they cannot permanently exclude duly accredited Russian representative from Russian Legation which was Russian Government property long before Legation Quarter was created but feel they are entitled in the interest of good neighborhood and order that the Russian representative when accredited to China shall undertake to abide by the rules and regulations for the Government upkeep and defense of the quarter as the German Minister did when he took back the German Legation in 1921.

For the Minister:
Bell
  1. See telegram no. 209, June 30, from the Minister in China, p. 444.