793.003/5577/9

Memorandum by Mr. Joseph E. Jacobs of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs of a Conversation Between the Chinese Minister (C. C. Wu) and the Chief of the Division (Hornbeck)

The Chinese Minister, Mr. Wu, called about noon today and stated that he had been instructed to inform the Department that Dr. Wang, the Chinese Minister for Foreign Affairs, had stated to the British Minister that he may be able to submit to the Political Council a proposal for the exclusion of Shanghai within the International Settlement area from the scope of the new treaty for a period of three years but that this is the only concession that he could make in regard to excluded areas, and that he, Wu, is now instructed to inform the Department of this and to the same effect. Minister Wu’s statement was received without comment.

Minister Wu also stated that he had been instructed to communicate the Chinese proposal in regard to the rights of residence and trade and that he would send Mr. Weigh of the Chinese Legation to the Department that afternoon to give us the text of the Chinese proposal.

Mr. Weigh called that afternoon and handed to Mr. Jacobs this text which reads as follows:

[Here follows text printed infra.]