893.00/11512
Memorandum by the American Counselor of Legation in China (Peck) of a Conversation Between the American Minister in China (Johnson) and the French Minister in China (Wilden)33
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Mr. Wilden asked Mr. Johnson what effect, in his opinion, the present state of affairs would have on the negotiations in regard to the abolition of extraterritorial jurisdiction. Mr. Johnson pointed out that President Wang Chung-hui was the principal negotiator on the Chinese side and that his absence could not but hamper the negotiations. He expressed the opinion that the Chinese authorities, and the National People’s Convention, would be engrossed with political issues, to the exclusion of treaty negotiation. Mr. Wilden appeared to derive some comfort from this. He asked Mr. Johnson whether the British were going to sign a treaty in a day or two. Mr. Johnson, without assuming to know anything positive about this, said he thought that only by some miracle would the British actually sign a treaty with the Chinese in the immediate future. Mr. Wilden then asked what stage had been reached in the American negotiations. Mr. Johnson said there was no prospect of an early conclusion to the negotiations and in view of Mr. Wilden’s evident indecision as to what France ought to do, Mr. Johnson said he would tell Mr. Wilden in advance before he, Mr. Johnson, signed a treaty. (Evidently Mr. Wilden took this promise to include preliminary notice of a proposed signing of a treaty in Washington, as well. W. R. P.) Mr. Wilden appeared greatly pleased and relieved by this assurance of Mr. Johnson.
- Copy transmitted to the Department by the Counselor of Legation in his despatch No. 1006, May 26; received June 22.↩