893.05/212: Telegram
The Chargé in China (Perkins) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 20—2:47 a.m.]
1172. Legation’s 1152, December 16 [15], 11 a.m., and 1168, December 19, 11 a.m. In view of the urgency of the situation as described in the telegram from the Senior Consul to the Senior interested Minister, the interested Heads of Legation are despatching a joint telegram to their delegates at Nanking containing a statement of recommendations to the interested home Governments, which the delegates are to act upon as definite instructions, unless objections from the home Governments are received by December 24, noon. This statement has been prepared after careful deliberation, and I earnestly request the Department’s approval thereof in toto. The statement is now being encoded and will follow this telegram as soon as possible. Should the Department have any objection to make, it is suggested that the reply should be addressed both to the Legation and also direct to the American delegates at Nanking. It is deemed advisable to take this course in order to avoid any possible charge by the Chinese that the foreign delegates are seeking to delay the negotiations beyond January 1 on the pretext of the necessity to refer the questions involved to their higher authorities.