Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, 1930, Volume II

793.003/477: Telegram

The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State

Peiping, December 18, 1930—6 p.m.
[Received December 18—9 a.m.]

1058. Legation’s 1057, December 18, 4 p.m.

1. French Minister has been notified by his representative in Nanking of receipt from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of proposals for the abolition of extraterritoriality as from January 1, 1930. Text comprises 10 articles and 7 annexes, provision being made for special sections in district courts for trial of French citizens and for advisers. The hope is expressed that the French Government will ratify these proposals by the end of February.

2. French Minister has received by telegram a memorandum in English which accompanied proposals and which he allowed me to read. It recalls the desire of the Chinese to abolish extraterritoriality, states that the Chinese Government, believing that the question can be settled by means of negotiation, wishes to dispose of the matter once for all and trusts that it will not be obliged to adopt other measures toward that end.

3. [Paraphrase.] Such a memorandum has not been received by the British or, so far as I am aware, by any other Legation. The French Minister regards it in the nature of an ultimatum. Replying to his inquiry, I said no such communication had reached the American Legation. If C. C. Wu’s note should be similar in tenor, I trust this Legation may inform the French Minister of its substance.

4. Minister Johnson has been informed. [End paraphrase.]

For the Minister:

Perkins