Papers relating to the foreign relations of the United States, 1931, The Far East, Volume III

793.003/5578/9

Memorandum by the Minister in China (Johnson)³⁵

Nanking, May 4, 1931.

I called on Sir Miles Lampson, British Minister, this afternoon and he told me that he had seen Dr. C. T. Wang this morning, and had found the latter in a very conciliatory mood. They discussed the question of reserved areas and Dr. Wang permitted the British Minister to infer that he might be able to persuade his Government to concede the entire area of the municipality of Greater Shanghai as being excluded from the treaty provided that the British would agree to some solution of the extra-settlement road question. Sir Miles told him that the British Government was prepared to meet the Chinese Government on the question of the extra-settlement roads but that Dr. Wang’s offer was inadequate, in fact, he, Sir Miles, had been precluded by recent instructions from even so much as discussing the four original areas.

Dr. Wang told the British Minister that either today or tomorrow the Chinese Government would publish regulations governing jurisdiction over foreigners when extraterritoriality was abolished and that these regulations would be implemented by a mandate specifying the date on which they would come into effect. British Minister stated that he had heard that the date was to be October 1st but Dr. Wang stated that ample time would be given for successful negotiation of extraterritorial questions.

Sir Miles informed Dr. Wang that Dr. Wang’s final terms amounting practically to an ultimatum had had their effect upon the British Government and he read once more to him the final paragraph of his instructions in which the British Government warned Dr. Wang lest his attitude cause British Government’s consultations with other powers intended to lead to agreement with China to change to consultations with a view to a concerted resistance against China’s demands.

Nelson Trusler Johnson

35. Copy transmitted to the Department by the Minister without covering despatch; received June 11. Substance reported by the Minister in his telegram of May 4, 1931, 5 p.m.; received May 4, 6:30 p.m. (793.003/657)