893.512/470: Telegram
The Minister in China (MacMurray) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 11—10:40 a.m.]
611. 1. The sympathetic understanding of the perplexities confronting us expressed in your number 291 of December 8th, 7 p.m., was exceedingly gratifying. However, I am led to doubt whether I have made sufficiently clear in my telegrams that our treaty position is nearly at the point of collapse and that to forestall the catastrophe the time element is vital. This statement is literally what, in giving practical consideration to our position, we must anticipate.
2. I recommended a particular action in my 598 of December 4th, 4 p.m. I also requested authorization to proceed with it as an extremely urgent matter. Shall I or shall I not go on in the hope of reaching an agreement with the British, and then with the Japanese Minister, and in the end with my other colleagues, for the interested powers to declare that the Washington surtaxes are applicable [Page 912] to their nationals immediately without a quid pro quo or any conditions with the exceptions that the Maritime Customs should collect the taxes and that the revenues which are obtained are to be turned over at each port to those authorities who exercise actual control? I believe this course offers quite clearly the best hope of escaping the two horns of the dilemma, either of which would injure our trading interests fatally. But your authorization must be received before I can act.
The Department must make a decision, and to delay in doing so would be equivalent in fact to making its decision to stand aside while events take the course which soon would lead to the undermining of our position.