Office of the Historian

793.003/679

Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs (Hornbeck)

[Washington,] May 4, 1931.

The Chinese Minister called at noon today by appointment made at his request.34

The Minister stated that the question of excluded areas presented three problems, namely: [Page 836]

1.
The number of areas to be excluded;
2.
The extent of the areas to be excluded;
3.
The term of duration of the treaty.

In regard to the number and the extent of the excluded areas, Dr. Wu indicated that his Government thought that the number should be less and the areas less than proposed in the Department’s latest draft. With regard to the term of duration of the treaty, he said that his Government proposes three years.

There was a lengthy discussion, in conclusion of which Mr. Hornbeck, in reply to express questions by the Minister, said that we feel that the exclusion of four areas is logical and reasonable; that discussion of any possible reduction of that number should be held at Nanking rather than here; that, with regard to areas, we would be willing to listen to any suggestions for a more logical delimitation than that of the ten mile radius; and that, with regard to the period of duration of the treaty, we would not like to discuss a period of less than ten years.

Dr. Wu also stated that the British negotiators had proposed an international commission to study and make recommendations with regard to excluded areas. He was informed that we assume that study will have to be made, though we are not prepared to say by what means or method, and that the necessity for dealing with these areas by some special method is, in our opinion, one of the strong arguments in favor of excluding them from the operation of the present agreement.

It was inferred from Dr. Wu’s manner that either (1) he is optimistic that a treaty can be concluded along the lines of our present draft, or (2) he wishes to leave it to C. T. Wang to contest our position. Dr. Wu intimated that he assumed that further time would be given for negotiation and Mr. Jacobs and Mr. Hornbeck inferred that Dr. Wu thinks that Nanking will not denounce the treaties unilaterally on May 5.

  1. Joseph E. Jacobs of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs was also present.↩