893.05/188: Telegram
The Chargé in China (Perkins) to the Secretary of State
1037. Department’s 382, November 21, 2 p.m.
- 1.
- I shall inform the interested Heads of Legation of the Department’s views at a meeting to be held tomorrow, the 25th. I have already discussed the matter with the Japanese Chargé d’Affaires ad interim who states that he has not yet received instructions as to the attitude of his Government toward the refusal of the Chinese to permit Japanese participation in the joint negotiations. (See Legation’s 1022, November 21, 4 p.m.) On account of the extensive Japanese interests in the International Settlement, the Japanese regard the question of their participation in reaching an agreement as one of great importance. The Chargé d’Affaires expressed himself as hopeful that some form of compromise could be found which would meet Japanese requirements.
- 2.
- Since the draft note quoted in the Legation’s 1000, paragraph (c),11 was despatched only day before yesterday (see Legation’s 1029, November 22, 9 p.m.12), I am of the opinion that it would not be advisable to make any decision with regard to further action pending a reply from the Minister for Foreign Affairs, thus affording an opportunity for the Japanese to make further efforts to adjust the matter. I shall be able to comment in more detail after tomorrow’s meeting.
- 3.
- The American delegates as well as those of the other nationalities remained in Shanghai where all except Bucknell are regularly stationed because of the questions raised by the Minister for Foreign Affairs in his note to the Senior Minister quoted in the Legation’s 1000, paragraph (b). The Legation approved this course because it seemed preferable that the delegates should not suffer any possible loss of prestige by marking time in Nanking pending a solution of these questions and because it seemed that the presence in Nanking of the delegates other than the Japanese would have tended to defeat the object of the draft note quoted in the Legation’s 1000, paragraph (c).
Perkins