493.11/967: Telegram
The Minister in China ( Schurman ) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 2—6:35 a.m.]
51. Your 30, January 31, 4 p.m. I now find Allied joint memorandum was presented to the Chinese Government in 1917, not 1918. Preliminary draft was submitted to the American Minister for his approval but the files of the Legation contain no indications of the nature of his comment nor of any report to the Department. Subject to Department’s approval, I shall decline to participate in the joint support of the Belgian arrangement on the ground that United States was not signatory to 1917 memorandum nor apprised of 1918 Belgian arrangement.