793.003/718: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received 10:45 p.m.]
My telegrams of May 24, 9 a.m.; May 26, noon; May 27, 5 p.m.;66 May 29, 11 a.m.; and May 30, noon.
Lampson informs me confidentially that he met C. T. Wang on June 5 after receiving instructions from home authorizing his signature of the proposed exchange of letters with Dr. Wang, on condition the latter accepted a new version of article 21 of the British draft (I refer to my May 24, 9 a.m.). Acceptance of the British Foreign Office draft of article 21 was refused by Dr. Wang, and Lampson thereupon agreed to some alterations in it to make it acceptable [Page 875] to the Foreign Minister, subject naturally to final approval by both British and Chinese Governments. When this was agreed to, Lampson and Wang signed and exchanged the letters on June 6. Lampson tells me he has no idea as to his Government’s reaction concerning the new draft of article 21, now referred to London, but he was unable to obtain all the British Government desired from Wang, while Lampson’s action was in any case subject to the ultimate confirmation of both Governments, as the exchanged letters stated.
With the above accomplished, I understand Lampson departed on June 7 at 6 a.m. by airplane from Nanking for Peiping and will not return without such instruction or unless it is possible to sign a treaty.
So far I have not yet received the final drafts of the exchanged letters or of article 21, as accepted by Lampson. As soon as I receive them, they will be communicated to the Department.
- Telegram dated May 27, 5 p.m., not printed.↩