893.515/516: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Bingham)
87. Your 165, April 8, 6 p.m.,85 and previous.
1. The Treasury Department of the American Government has recently sent abroad three representatives in the capacity of economic (especially monetary and financial) observers. One of these, Professor J. Lossing Buck, whose home is in Nanking, China, has been sent to China. The sending of Professor Buck to China is in no way connected with or occasioned by the suggestion made to us by the British Government per Sir Warren Fisher that the British, the American, the Japanese, and possibly the French Governments send financial experts to China in connection with the question of cooperative financial assistance to China.
In order that there may be no misunderstanding, please inform Foreign Office of the above.
2. In view of inconclusive character of information thus far received and of some inconsistencies between reports received from London and reports received from sources in China, Department desires that you [Page 575] confer with Foreign Office and give Department the benefit of such replies as you may be able to make to questions as follows:
- (a)
- Is the British Government sending a financial expert to be attached to the British Legation in Peiping?
- (b)
- Have other Governments, especially the Japanese Government, replied, favorably or unfavorably, to the British Government’s suggestion that several governments send financial experts to China?
- (c)
- What replies have been received by the British Government and what is the present thought of the British Government in connection with the broad question of financial assistance to China by a process of cooperation among the powers most concerned?
You may say that we would appreciate having as definite information as the British Government may feel it appropriate and possible for it to give on these points, together with any comment or suggestions which the British Government may feel disposed in connection therewith to make. You should also say that Department is seeking merely a clear understanding, with as complete orientation as possible, of the situation as it now exists.
- Not printed.↩