493.11/1578
Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs (Hornbeck) of a Conversation With the Chinese Chargé (Yung Kwai)
Mr. Yung Kwai having called at Mr. Hornbeck’s request, Mr. Hornbeck, after exchange of inquiries and comments with regard to the situation in China and the weather in Washington, adverted to the subject of the inquiry which Mr. Yung Kwai had made recently, at the instance of the Nanking Government, with regard to postponement of payments on intergovernmental debts13—with reference particularly to certain Boxer Indemnity payments. Mr. Hornbeck read to Mr. Yung Kwai an informal statement—of which a copy is attached hereto.14 Mr. Yung Kwai said that this was what he had expected would be the reply; he gave every appearance of being not only satisfied but gratified; and he asked whether he might have a copy of the paper which had been read to him. Mr. Hornbeck said that he would gladly give him a copy and that it should be regarded as an informal, oral reply to the informal, oral inquiry which Mr. Yung Kwai had made. Mr. Yung Kwai said that he quite understood that the whole matter was informal.
The conversation then turned again to the Chinese political situation and soon terminated.
- For correspondence on this subject, see vol. i, pp. 1 ff.↩
- Infra. ↩