500.A4e/561: Telegram
The American Delegation to the Secretary of State
[Received March 3—9:43 a.m.]
Conference 26. British delegates inactive, say they are waiting instructions from their Government respecting the attitude of Chinese provinces toward Conference and proposed treaty. We told them we proposed to proceed with negotiations irrespective disturbed conditions; that we were bound to effectuate Washington Treaty and thought it advantageous that powers should endeavor to get in accord on general tariff policy toward China, then if China went to pieces before treaty ratified, responsibility of disintegration would not be on powers. Under all the circumstances we believe we should diligently proceed with negotiations and encourage others to do so.