611.9331/93½
The Secretary of State to President Coolidge
My Dear Mr. President: There is no doubt in my mind that the signing of the treaty on July twenty-fifth with the representatives of the Nationalist Government constitutes technically a recognition of that Government and that ratification by the Senate is not necessary to give effect to the recognition. In other words, you have the exclusive right to recognize a foreign government. It is true the provisions of the treaty are not binding until they are ratified by the Senate but the ratification is not necessary to give effect to your act of recognition. This we have understood all of the time.
Most of the press seem to assume that we have recognized the Nationalist Government of China. However, some are in doubt about it and some of the business men of China and missionaries here are not clear on the subject. I think we should plan to make this perfectly clear either by an announcement in China or here or in conversations with Alfred Sze, the Chinese Minister. He is coming in to see me on Monday and I am going to talk the matter over with him. I should, however, like your authority by wire, if you approve, to acknowledge that this is a recognition. The more influence we can give to the Nationalist Government the better just now.
Faithfully yours,