123 M 221/137b: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in China (Mayer)
116. The French Embassy yesterday presented the following memorandum:
“According to information received by the French Government, the Italian Government is very anxious that Foreign Ministers in Peking should only present their credentials when the claims concerning the payment in gold of the Boxer Indemnity have been given satisfaction.
“The French Government would be willing to modify in the above sense their instructions to the French Minister in Peking, M. de Martel, if the United States Government were ready to postpone the presentation of Mr. MacMurray’s credentials.
The French Embassy would be greatly obliged to the Secretary of State for an expression of his views on this matter.”
Department replied informally that under present circumstances it did not feel justified in instructing MacMurray to postpone the presentation of his credentials on the basis set forth in the French memorandum.
Inform MacMurray on arrival and request him to cable his comment.