793.003/337: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Great Britain (Dawes)
113. Department’s 104, April 23, 5 p.m.27 Following telegram is being sent to Peiping:
“After further study Department considers that in revised draft Article 5 all but first sentence is of doubtful desirability. Remainder of article was intended to cover those comparatively rare cases in which purely temporary detention in civil cases may appear warranted as necessary to prevent removal of bank deposits, merchandise, et cetera, in litigation. It is feared, however, that adoption of such provisions would in all probability be followed by abuses in application, and the Department is accordingly considering deleting them.
[Page 440]If first sentence only is retained in submitting this draft to Chinese, they will probably suggest more and the matter could then be made subject to discussion.
American Ambassador at London and British Embassy are being informed.”
You may inform Foreign Office.