793.003/629: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Great Britain (Dawes)
[Paraphrase]
Washington, April 30, 1931—5
p.m.
110. Department’s 106, April 25, 4 p.m.
- (1)
- [Here follows substance of conversation between the Chinese Minister and the Chief of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs reported in first paragraph of memorandum of April 29, 1931, printed on page 831.]
- (2)
- In the telegram cited above and in previous telegrams, the Department’s views regarding excluded areas were communicated to you. The British Ambassador here has been informed by the Department of the above.30
- (3)
- The Department hopes to be informed as to the position the British Foreign Office will take in view of C. T. Wang’s statement to Lampson and of the communication on April 29 by C. C. Wu to us, mentioned in paragraph (1). It is the Department’s opinion that the British and American Governments should firmly refuse to be moved [Page 833] thereby from the position they have taken that a reasonable Shanghai area must be excluded and from the contention that similar Tientsin, Hankow, and Canton areas also should be excluded. It is the Department’s opinion that a contention which Dr. Wang advanced that in any event our rights terminate 3 years hence with expiration of the treaties is unsound and, with reference particularly to the problem of the excluded areas, irrelevant. The Department notes with interest that the Japanese Government does not appear to be disconcerted by the Chinese declaration that Japan’s extraterritorial rights no longer exist and also that the French Government has not indicated any weakening under the pressure of Dr. Wang’s tactics.
- (4)
- The Department wishes you to discuss the situation with the British Foreign Office and to report upon the views and, so far as is possible, the intention of the British Government.
Stimson
- Pars. (1) and (2) were reported to the Consul General at Nanking, for the Minister in China, in telegram No. 30, April 30, 1931, 3 p.m. (793.003/629)↩