Papers relating to the foreign relations of the United States, 1929, Volume II

893.113/1169: Telegram

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

Peking, April 16, 1929—5 p.m.
[Received April 16—2 p.m.]

287. My telegram No. 271, April 9, 4 p.m.

1. British Minister has received instructions to notify his colleagues that his Government desires to terminate the arms embargo and corollary agreement regarding naval equipment and that failing unanimity among the foreign representatives within one week after notification to them the British Government proposes to withdraw from the embargo agreement.

2. British Minister has already privately discussed the matter with his principally interested colleagues and proposes to make formal notification at meeting of the diplomatic body to be held Friday, April 19th.

[3.] Japanese Chargé d’Affaires hopes in the near future to receive authorization to participate in declaring the embargo canceled.

4. I propose for my part to take the position that while preferring joint action in canceling the embargo we reserve the right to withdraw from the agreement and to rescind the executive order on the subject⁹¹ at any time after April 26th.

MacMurray

91. See proclamation No. 1621 by President Harding, March 4, 1922, Foreign Relations, 1922, vol. i, p. 726.