493.11/1856: Telegram

The Consul General at Nanking (Peck) to the Secretary of State

29. Following telegram has been sent to the Legation:

“April 18, 10 a.m. Wang Ching-wei arranged an intimate gathering last night and suddenly informed me [Executive] Yuan yesterday passed a resolution to the effect that if the American Government would submit a list of American debts and claims the list would be carefully scrutinized after which all claims not open to question would be officially acknowledged and if there were sufficient doubtful claims to justify the creation of a tribunal one would be established along the lines proposed by the American Government. Wang also said that the Chinese Government was determined to take immediate steps following official acknowledgment of obligations to arrange for their gradual liquidation. He said that so far as indicated in the Government’s records outstanding obligations to American citizens were comparatively small. He asked that this information be telegraphed to the Department.

Repeated to the Department.”

Peck