611.9331/194: Telegram

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

229. Department’s 158, June 2, 3 p.m.

1.
On June 2nd the Second Secretary of the British Legation called upon an officer of this Legation and permitted him to read (1) copy of British reply to Chinese Government’s original note requesting treaty revision which reply was of similar tone to ours; and (2) Chinese Government’s reply thereto which was similar to the reply to us of January 18 (see Legation’s 56, January 23, 5 p.m.) including reference to extraterritoriality and inland navigation and differing only in that British Government was requested to open discussions.
2.
Secretary of the British Legation read to officer an instruction from his Foreign Office authorizing his Legation to inform Chinese Government verbally that the British Government would not consider a revision of the extraterritorial clauses of any treaty until discussions of extraterritoriality had reached a mature stage with other powers but that it was willing to meet reasonable desires of the Chinese Government in other matters provided actualities of the situation were given consideration.
3.
Secretary said that no action had as yet been taken upon this authorization.
Johnson