793.003/686: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Consul General at Nanking (Peck)
42. For the Minister: Your May 19, 5 p.m., from Nanking.
In regard to receiving from the Chinese Government, should it offer, an official communication of texts of the recent mandate and regulations, the suggestion is made that you consult in your discretion your most interested colleagues in advance.
It is the Department’s belief that the same attitude should, if possible, be assumed by all of you, but particularly by you and Lampson. If such communication is offered to you, the Department feels it desirable for you to point out to C. T. Wang that this Government still is negotiating with the Chinese Government in the expectation and hope that a solution be found of the remaining matters on which no accord has yet been reached, therefore, the American Government would deplore an official statement to it by the Chinese Government that the latter is abrogating treaty provisions, since the prospect of reaching an amicable agreement would be prejudiced by such action. If C. T. Wang should insist, in spite of such statement by you, on making the communication, then there would seem to be no course for you except to receive the communication. You would thereupon do this without making further comment.
In the light of the foregoing and of the suggested exchange of views, you may decide as to what is advisable.
The Department would appreciate receiving information on the instructions or intention of Lampson in this connection.