493.11/1628: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Consul General at Nanking (Peck)
38. For the Minister. Your April 16, 1 p.m. in regard to postponement of American share of Boxer Indemnity payments.
In concluding sentence of your note to Chinese Foreign Office as received by Department, Department fears that use of word “principal” and of word “complete” may possibly be construed by Foreign Office as permitting partial interruption of objects to which American payments are devoted.
The use of the expression “acquiescence of my Government” does not in the opinion of the Department state correctly the position of the Department, which is that the Department as such is unable affirmatively to agree to postponement but will not raise any objection to such postponement.
In the light of the foregoing, it is suggested that you may care to amend your note to the Foreign Office.