493.11/1603: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Consul General at Shanghai (Cunningham)
35. For the Minister. With reference to your telegram of February 17, 2 p.m. and previous, the Department is unable to perceive the soundness of the argument upon which the Chinese Government bases its request for the postponement of Boxer Indemnity payments inasmuch as the Department understands that the Customs receipts during 1931 were the greatest in the history of that service.
Furthermore there exists the possibility that Japan might consider as distinctly unfriendly any action on the part of the American Government which, in effect, would make available for Chinese military use funds now being expended for cultural purposes.
In any event the Department is unable now, as in 1917,66 affirmatively to agree to a postponement of the American share of the Boxer Indemnity payments, the only courses open being to withhold objection or to state that it does not look with favor upon the Chinese proposal.
In view of the above and the reported attitude of the Italian Government, the Department, before it gives a definite reply, desires your further recommendations and if possible information regarding the attitude of the British Government.
- See telegram of September 20, 1917, 4 p.m., to the Minister in China, Foreign Relations, 1917, supp. 2, vol. i, p. 689.↩