Office of the Historian

793.00/197: Telegram

The Consul General at Shanghai (Cunningham) to the Secretary of State

Shanghai, February 28, 1928—noon.
[Received February 29—9:25 a.m.]

42. Following telegram sent to the Legation is repeated for your information:

“February 28, noon. The following is report of a statement made by Huang Fu, who was installed Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Nanking regime on February 16th, upon the occasion of his assumption of such office as reported by the Kuo Min News Agency as a result of an interview with their representative and Mr. Huang Fu.

  • ‘1. With a view to arrangements for early abrogation of China’s treaties now universally recognized to be unequal, the Nationalist Government will make all necessary preparations in the hope of opening negotiations at the earliest possible moment with the friendly powers for the collaboration of new treaties on the basis of equality and mutual respect for territorial sovereignty.
  • 2. Pending the nature of such new treaties, the Nationalist Government is prepared to maintain and defend friendly relations with the [powers] in such a manner as to be able to meet the altered circumstances of the present times and to remove all sources of difficulties and misunderstanding between the Chinese people and foreigners.
  • 3. The Nationalist Government is prepared to protect to their fullest ability the lives and property of foreigners in China in accordance with international law and usage.
  • 4. The Nationalist Government will recognize as valid and binding all treaties or agreements to be hereafter concluded by the local authorities with the foreign governments, or contracts to be hereafter made by them with foreign companies or individuals, provided that they are concluded or made with the participation or full knowledge of the Nationalist Government; will equally recognize as valid and binding all treaties or agreements concerning China to be hereafter made between or among the foreign powers, provided that they are made with the participation of the Nationalist Government.
  • 5. The Nationalist Government is prepared to settle important outstanding cases, at any appropriate occasion, in a spirit of fairness and mutual understanding.
  • 6. As for those foreign powers who seek to interfere with China’s domestic affairs or impair her status quo ante institutions, the Nationalist Government, for the purpose of self-preservation, feels constrained to adopt and consider all suitable measures to deal with the situation.’

Repeated to Department.”

Cunningham