793.003 C 73/241: Telegram

The Minister in China (MacMurray) to the Secretary of State

16. Your telegram number 13, January 9, 11 p.m.50

1.
Commission meets tomorrow. Delay has been caused by the insistence of the Chinese upon at least nominal chairmanship and by disturbed political conditions which have made them not actually eager to begin.
2.
All Commissioners have now agreed upon program by which Wang Chung-hui will act as chairman of the first meeting. Chinese Minister of Justice will give an address of welcome; Hioki51 will reply; French Commission will nominate Minister of Justice as Honorary President with no powers; Hioki will nominate Strawn as chairman; and Portuguese Commissioner will propose a Chinese and a member of the British Legation as secretaries.
3.
In view of the full discussions which have already taken place, Strawn and I have not considered it necessary to present to the Foreign Office the information contained in your number 6, January 5, 9 p.m.
MacMurray
  1. Not printed.
  2. Eki Hioki, Japanese Commissioner