893.5045/137: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Great Britain (Houghton)
236. Your 217 July 17, noon. You may inform British Government that this Government is ready to acquiesce in its proposal for the holding of a public judicial inquiry to establish and make known the facts, fix the responsibilities in regard to the Shanghai incidents provided that the proposed commission include a Chinese jurist of high standing. You may state that this Government is of the opinion that the holding of an inquiry without a Chinese member, or at any rate an offer to admit a Chinese to participate would have an adverse effect upon Chinese opinion while to hold a judicial investigation in which the Chinese are given an opportunity to be represented would be a conciliation gesture which would favorably influence Chinese sentiment and react advantageously upon our relations.
[Paraphrase.] You may inform the Foreign Office confidentially that the American Minister in China believes that probably the Belgian, French, and Italian Governments will oppose such an inquiry, as their Ministers think that any suggestion to reconsider the course followed hitherto will compromise their amour propre and prestige. [End paraphrase.]