Office of the Historian

893.5045/128: Telegram

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

Peking, July 11, 1925—6 p.m.
[Received July 11—10:26 a.m.]

271. Referring to my 267, July 9, 7 p.m.; 268, July 10, 6 p.m.

1.
Prior to yesterday’s meeting of the Ministers the French Minister circulated to his colleagues a statement to the general effect that, in view of the divergences of opinion developed at the meeting of the 8th with particular reference to MacMurray’s reluctance to join in the telegram which he had proposed, he felt unable to continue as a member of the commission of three heads of mission deputed by the diplomatic representatives to negotiate in their behalf with the Chinese authorities for the settlement of the Shanghai incident.
2.
At the meeting MacMurray took occasion to remark that the difference of viewpoint developed was one merely as to procedure rather than as to substance. Count Martel while expressing thanks for this statement said that his decision to withdraw remained unchanged. After the meeting he frankly told MacMurray that he had welcomed the opportunity to withdraw from participation in the negotiations.
3.
This frank avowal together with the attitude displayed by him as reported in my 267 seems to indicate a definite desire on the part of the French representative to dissociate himself from all responsibility in connection with the situation in Shanghai International Settlement. Considering that the French interest is in their own [Page 684] Concession rather than in the International Settlement, his desire to hold aloof is perhaps natural and only important in that it tends to weaken statement of the powers and manifests an intention on the part of the French to exploit the present situation to their advantage at the expense of other nationalities. …
4.
[Paraphrase.] As yet there has been no decision as to who will take the place of the French Minister on the commission. [End paraphrase.]
Mayer