Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1933, The Far East, Volume III

493.11/1688: Telegram

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

Washington, March 25, 1933—2 p.m.

97. Department refers to concluding sentence first paragraph of enclosure to your despatch No. 1945 of February 8, 1933,⁹⁰ which would seem to indicate that the scope of the proposed claims commission may have been limited, in the Legation’s presentation of the matter to the Chinese Government, to the adjudication of “contractual obligations”.

While awaiting receipt of a copy of the Legation’s note to the Chinese Government under date January 20,⁹⁰ which should clarify this point, Department desires to emphasize that no restriction such as the above was intended in its instruction No. 853 of August 26, 1932,⁹¹ or in its subsequent telegrams on this subject.

Department desires that you continue to press for the establishment of a Sino-American claims commission and that if any misunderstanding has arisen the Chinese Government be informed promptly that it is not the thought of the American Government that the proposed commission be confined to the adjudication of contractual obligations alone.

Hull

90. Not printed.
90. Not printed.
91. Foreign Relations, 1932, vol. iv, p. 621.