793.003/524a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in China (Johnson)
44. Your 35, January 21, 4 p.m., and 46, January 29, 10 a.m. Through the Embassy in Great Britain, the Department has consulted the British Foreign Office, and your comments and those reported in your No. 46 of British officials and the suggestions and views of the British Foreign Office have been given consideration.
With regard to the present status of the extraterritoriality negotiations, a telegram has been sent to the Embassy in London as follows:
[Here follows text of telegram No. 35, February 10, 1931, noon, printed supra.]
In view of the attitude, as revealed in the recently exchanged telegrams, of (1) the Chinese Government and (2) the British Foreign Office, the Department believes you had best plan to go to Nanking before the end of February and a few days after the British Minister’s expected arrival there on February 20.
The British Foreign Office now appears to be ready to yield evocation, criminal jurisdiction, and co-judges, in this order, should such action become apparently necessary and advisable following Lampson’s return and resumption of negotiations for the sake of reaching an agreement. If necessary, the Department would be ready to make these concessions, but it would prefer giving Lampson an opportunity to get his bearings and explore the situation before the Department makes its new proposals.
You may inform your British colleague discreetly of such portions of the foregoing as you deem advisable.