793.003/731: Telegram

The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State

I have just received a telegram from Peck at Nanking stating that Minister of Foreign Affairs has sent to him a formal note of which the following is substance:

“Formal note from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announces that Minister Wu has resigned, that it is inexpedient that extraterritoriality negotiations be interrupted, and the proposal is made that the negotiations be continued in Nanking between the Chinese Minister for Foreign Affairs and the American Minister with a view to the early termination of the negotiations. Note requests that you inform your Government and send a reply.”

[Paraphrase.] Dr. C. T. Wang in a personal note asked Peck to telegraph me to return to Nanking as soon as convenient. From this I assume the Foreign Minister will propose concluding with me an arrangement which is similar to the one with Sir Miles Lampson. I shall wait in Shanghai for the Department’s instructions as to what I am to do in the matter. [End paraphrase.]

Johnson