793.003/111
Memorandum by the Assistant Secretary of State (Johnson)
The British Ambassador called upon the Secretary this morning. He referred to the note of the Chinese Government to the Powers on the subject of extraterritoriality and to the draft reply which he stated had been prepared in Peking by Mr. MacMurray, the American Minister, at the request of the Powers. He stated that his own Government, while it had considered that this reply was usefully suggestive, had nevertheless felt that out of respect for Chinese sensibilities the Powers should write similar rather than identic replies to the Chinese note and that therefore the British Government has had prepared a draft which it had communicated to its minister at Peking and which, he understood, had been made available to us. He asked what steps we had taken in the matter.
The Secretary stated that he had seen the note drafted in Peking, although the information from our legation had not indicated that it was the draft of Mr. MacMurray alone. He said he had also read over the draft which the British Government had prepared and he felt that our attitude on the subject brought up by the Chinese Government was not different from that evidenced by the British Government’s note. He stated that he had not had an opportunity to go over the draft reply which was being prepared in the Department, but that he expected to give consideration to the question as soon as the draft was ready. He said he felt sure that we should not prematurely give to the Chinese Government information as to what would be contained in our respective replies. He said his own opinion was that China was not in a position to permit of the relinquishment of extraterritorial rights. He said, however, that this was a matter he felt certain he should discuss very carefully with the President before any decision would be reached because he thought the President, with his own personal knowledge of China, would have ideas on the subject.
The Secretary asked the British Ambassador whether the British Government had considered the possibility that the Chinese Government might denounce the extraterritorial provisions of the treaties without further ado and he said he understood that such a policy had even been threatened by the Chinese at one time. The British Ambassador [Page 574] stated that he did not know whether his Government had any policy prepared for such an event. He said he would be very glad to ask his Government about this matter.