793.00/129a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in China (MacMurray)
193. Department’s 165, July 23, 3 p.m. The following comments, other than those reported to you as coming from British and Japanese Governments, on the American draft of note have been received:
On July 28 the American Embassy at Brussels reported19 the receipt of note from Foreign Office stating that the views of the Belgian Government were in accord with those of the United States. The note stated that the Belgian Government considered it extremely opportune to call together, as soon as possible, a conference for the revision of the customs tariff and the abolition of likin and to convoke at the same time a commission of inquiry on the subject of extraterritoriality. The Belgian Government also stated that it believed that, if the Governments should inform the Chinese Government, without delay, of their decisions in principle and of the intentions of the Western Powers to treat the problems which would be raised at these conferences in the widest and most generous spirit, such action could not fail to produce in China a relaxation of tension.
The American Legation at The Hague reported on July 2819 that the Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs had informed it that the Dutch Government was in complete accord with the American draft, that it desired an identic note to be sent to the Chinese Government.
On July 31 the American Embassy at Rome reported19 that it had received a note from the Italian Foreign Office to the effect that the Italian Government agreed in principle with the essential [Page 817] points of the American draft. The note of the Italian Government stated that:
“The Royal Government is disposed to lend its willing collaboration with a view to calling the conference for the augmentation of the Chinese tariff as well as the Commission on Extraterritoriality.”
The Italian Government indicated that in the course of the Conference account must be taken of the financial and economic obligations previously assumed by China toward one or the other of the Powers.
On July 18 the American Embassy at Paris reported20 that the French Minister at Peking had been instructed to promote the following ideas:
- “1. No discussion of principle bearing on the conventional rights of the Powers can be accepted before the complete reestablishment of order.
- “2. Such a revision cannot be envisaged except in so far as the Chinese Government conscious and mindful of its responsibilities will seem to be in a position to assume effectively the obligations which are incumbent upon a sovereign state for the protection of foreigners throughout entire territory of a thoroughly open China.
- “3. As soon as the reestablishment of order is effected the conference for the revision of the customs can be evoked at once.
- “It will be given power to examine, after the accomplishment of its normal task, the conditions under which China will be able to obtain gradually in the future new customs agencies until it recovers its customs autonomy.
- “4. The conditions under which China will gradually be able to obtain the relinquishment of extraterritoriality will be examined before its adjournment by the commission on extraterritoriality naturally qualified for this work.”
In a later report of August 6 the American Embassy at Paris stated20 that it had been informed by the Chief of the French Cabinet, Mr. Leger:
“That when the French Government had received the draft declaration proposed by the British prior to the receipt of our text, they had informed the British their text was acceptable suggesting only a slight modification which he indicated had reference to the reestablishment of China’s financial credit. He added that they had later received the Japanese draft; that as the differences of opinion involved only the preamble or declaration of principle he presumed these differences would be thrashed out in Peking. Leger further said they considered our draft too mild and liberal in tone; that the British was perhaps too sharp and states that French Government therefore favored the Japanese draft as a good compromise.”