893.8007/31: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in China (MacMurray)
402. Legation’s 1045 of November 29, noon. Careful consideration has been given by the Department to the suggestions made by you but it cannot perceive how joint or identic notes can serve any good purpose. It is stated by you that the object of such a note would be to make the Kwangtung authorities understand clearly that the deplorable state of affairs will no longer be tolerated by the foreign nations concerned and that the latter will take steps for protecting their nationals if the Chinese fail in this regard to do their duty. As to the question of what the powers propose to do in case the Chinese fail, the only suggestion made is for continuous international naval patrol of Bias Bay, and the Department is in agreement with Admiral Bristol that participation by us in such action would place upon this Government responsibility for the acts of other nations without authority or power to control such action. Therefore, the Department is not prepared to authorize the Legation to join with other powers in an identic or joint note to Kwangtung authorities in regard to piracy.
Referring to your suggestion in paragraph 12 in regard to the use of code, the Department considers that you should continue to use the confidential ciphers and codes for transmitting messages of this nature. No confidential standing whatever is now attached to the … code.