893.01 Provisional/41
The British Embassy to the Department of State
Aide-Mémoire
The representative of His Majesty’s Embassy at Peking was faced some days ago with the question whether to receive a visit from the Mayor of Tientsin who has been newly appointed by the Provisional Government. In the end His Majesty’s Consul and the Chinese Secretary received the Mayor at the former’s house. A similar procedure was followed by the French representatives but it is understood that the United States Counsellor received the Mayor on a “personal basis” on general authority from the United States Government “to receive and return calls of officials of the present régime provided this was done in a personal manner”.
His Majesty’s Embassy have now asked for authority to follow in future a similar procedure to that of the United States Embassy, and His Majesty’s Government agree that the closer the procedures of the two Embassies can conform the better. They would therefore be grateful if they might receive as early information as possible as to what precise procedure the United States Government would prescribe for the treatment by their diplomatic representatives, so long as these remain within the territory of the Provisional Government, both of actual members of the Provisional Government and of territorial officials such as the Mayor of Tientsin. On receipt of this information instructions will be issued to His Majesty’s Representatives to ensure as far as possible the adoption of a common attitude.