125.643/45: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Chargé in China (Perkins)
Washington, August 21,
1928—8 p.m.
281. Your 637, August 17, 7 p.m., 638, August 17, 10 p.m. and 644, August 20, 1 p.m.35
- 1.
- Your 637 and 638 were received after the Department’s 273, August 17, 6 p.m. was sent. Portions of them were unintelligible because of garbling. Referring to points not covered in the Department’s No. 273, you are instructed as follows:
- 2.
- Renewal of consular lease at Nanking on year to year basis approved. Spiker should proceed with repairs and replacement of government property obtainable locally. Articles not obtainable locally should be requisitioned from the Department. Department would expect the Nationalist authorities as owners of the premises to defray cost of their restoration to former condition. Cost of replacing United States government property was included in the reparation estimate of $8,321.97 (see paragraph 1, Department’s telegram 112 of April 4, 5 p.m.). Department can, if necessary, arrange to advance the necessary funds in anticipation of reimbursement by the Chinese authorities of the cost of repairs and payment of the reparation indicated. Instructions regarding drafts will be telegraphed upon receipt of estimates. In estimating cost of furnishing, amount of reparation estimate should not be exceeded and allowance should be made for cost of articles to be purchased by the Department. Use of temporary quarters, if provided by the Nationalist authorities, may be accepted.
- 3.
- Department appreciates courtesy of British Consul General Hewlett36 but has no preference in regard to priority of American or British reoccupation of premises. The Department does not appear to have been informed concerning the proposal in regard to ceremonies made at the time of the Nanking Settlement Agreement in March last, other than in Section 2 of the Legation’s telegram 213, April 7, 3 p.m.37 The Legation may use its own discretion regarding this matter. However, insistence upon particular ceremonies should not be allowed to interfere with carrying out of the Department’s instruction 273 of August 17, 6 p.m. Department considers it would be inexpedient for a secretary of legation to proceed to Nanking to attend such ceremonies as may take place.
- 4.
- Department believes return of American citizens to Nanking should still be discouraged but it desires an early telegraphic recommendation from Spiker after he takes up residence there.
Castle