893.515/708
Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs (Hornbeck)
The Chinese Minister informed me in strict confidence that he has a confidential message from the Chinese Minister of Finance inquiring informally and confidentially when the Chinese Government may “hope to know of the designation of an American financial adviser”, inasmuch as the British financial adviser is to arrive in September. The Minister of Finance says that the people in China attach great importance to American cooperation. He refers to the American Government’s message of February 26 which intimated a desire of international cooperation. He requests that this inquiry be treated as strictly confidential.
I stated to the Minister that no decision had as yet been arrived at.