893.05/192: Telegram
The Chargé in China (Perkins) to the Secretary of State
1052. Legation’s 1041, November 25, 10 p.m.
- 1.
- Interested Heads of Legation this morning discussed reply from the Minister for Foreign Affairs, dated November 26th, to the note sent him November 22nd (Legation’s 1037, November 24, 1 p.m.). Wang party [flatly?] refuse [refuses?] to permit Japanese participation in the joint negotiations, but, with regard to the question of the rank of certain delegates, Wang states that, since it has been declared that they have the character of diplomatic representatives with the same title as those chosen from the members of the Legations, he consents not to maintain his former point of view on this subject. (Legation’s 1000, November 14, 8 p.m., last portion of telegram quoted in paragraph (c).)
- 2.
- Interested Heads of Legation agreed upon draft telegram to the Minister for Foreign Affairs reaffirming position previously taken with regard to Japanese participation but stating that, since the Japanese Government was reluctant to delay negotiations pending the result of discussions, interested Heads of Legation were instructing their delegates to get into touch with Chinese delegates with a view to opening negotiations on such date as the Minister for Foreign Affairs might name. At the request of the Japanese Chargé d’Affaires it was agreed to withhold temporarily the despatch of this telegram pending the receipt of more detailed instructions momentarily expected by him from Tokyo.
- 3.
- Wang has apparently for all practical purposes receded from the position hitherto maintained by him regarding the rank of delegates not members of the Legations, thus obviating the difficulty hitherto confronting us in this regard. …
A reply by cable is requested.
Perkins
- Telegram in two sections.↩