123 M 221/129: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in China ( Mayer )
98. Your 186, May 13, 3 P.M. The following is the essential portion of a memorandum dated May 16, 1925, from the British Embassy:
“His Majesty’s Government feel that the present Chinese Government, whatever degree of stability it may enjoy, and however good its intentions, does not on its own showing rest on any constitutional basis, and further, that there is a risk that any of its acts, including any agreements that Foreign Powers might conclude with it (for instance, as a result of the forthcoming tariff conference) might lawfully be repudiated by some succeeding Government claiming to be established with constitutional sanction.
In these circumstances, and whatever might be the political advantages or disadvantages of falling in with the suggestions made by the French and Belgian Governments, His Majesty’s Government would be very glad to learn the views of the United States Government as to whether recognition is at present possible.
[Page 634]At the same time, I have the honour to suggest that in view of approaching tariff conference, it would be desirable that the Governments who will take part in that conference should instruct their representatives at Peking to point out to the Chinese Government that there are difficulties in the way of a conference being held so long as the Chinese Government is not fully recognized. In making this démarche, the Corps Diplomatique might also suggest to the Chinese Government that they would, for this reason, do well to place themselves upon such a constitutional and representative basis as would remove any technical objection to their full recognition by the Powers.
In this connection you will recollect that the Corps Diplomatique at Peking recently raised the question whether newly appointed diplomatic representatives should present letters of credence. It seems to His Majesty’s Government difficult to understand how a Minister can be accredited to Government at Peking without admitting that that Government is the de jure Government of China, while on the other hand, the Government so recognized would yet remain one with which agreements could not safely be concluded.
In the light of the above, His Majesty’s Government trust that the United States Government will suspend action as regards the presentation of letters of credence until the question of full recognition, of the Chinese Government is settled, and I have the honour to ask the favour of your early observations on the points raised in this note.”
In an interview with the British Ambassador on May 18 concerning this matter I suggested that the letters be addressed to the “Chief Executive of the Provisional Government of China”; that at the time of the presentation of his letters of credence Mr. MacMurray in his formal address, would refer to the declaration communicated on December 454 concerning the provisional character of the present Government. I pointed out that this would seem to be recognizing nothing but the provisional government and the formal address by MacMurray would definitely state that it was just such recognition which is made necessary by the admittedly provisional character of the government. I explained to the British Ambassador that we had to accredit the new Minister to some Government and that this plan would clearly prevent any claim by China that we had extended de jure recognition to a provisional government. He agreed with me that this program would be sufficient to meet the situation but said he would communicate my oral reply to his Government.
You may acquaint your colleagues with the above and the French and Belgian Embassies in Washington will likewise be informed.
- See telegram No. 472, Dec. 4, 1924, from the Chargé in China, Foreign Relations, 1924, vol. i, p. 431.↩