Office of the Historian

123 M 221/126: Telegram

The Chargé in China (Mayer) to the Secretary of State

Peking, April 30, 1925—7 p.m.
[Received April 30—9:35 a.m.]

178. My 174, April 27, 1 p.m.

1.
Belgian Minister has received telegraphic instructions authorizing him to present his letters of credence if he considers that the [Page 630] collective declaration of December 9, 1924,47 permits him to act without preliminary agreements with the other representatives of the countries signatory to the Washington treaties. The Belgian Government requested a speedy response as the Chinese Minister at Brussels has requested the hastening of the deposit of his letters of credence by the Belgian Minister at Peking.
2.
The question of the presentation of letters of credence will be discussed May 6th at meeting of Washington Conference powers.
3.
Belgian Minister is notifying his Government of above meeting reporting he considers it would be preferable if Governments concerned consulted together in the matter since diplomatic representatives at Peking not in a position to decide whether presentation of letters of credence implies de jure recognition. I share above opinion and respectfully suggest at instance of Belgian Minister that if Department consulted with French Government in above request it do so likewise with Belgian Government.
Mayer
  1. See telegrams No. 472, Dec. 4, 1924, from the Chargé in China; No. 302, Dec. 5, 1924, to the Chargé; and No. 478, Dec. 9, 1924, from the Chargé Foreign Relations, 1924, vol. i, pp. 431, 434, and 439.↩