893.102 Tientsin/536: Telegram
The Counselor of Embassy in China (Peck) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 11—6:15 a.m.]
636. First Secretary of the British Embassy acting under instructions from the Ambassador last night informed me that the British and Japanese authorities had arrived at an agreement in regard to [Page 255] the silver on deposit in the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank in Tientsin which provides that 100,000 pounds worth shall be spent for relief purposes under an international committee containing British and Japanese and if possible also French and American representatives. The remainder of the silver shall be deposited in a “neutral” bank under the joint control of the Yokohama Specie and Hong Kong and Shanghai Banks. However, the British made their final assent to this plan contingent on the concurrence of the Chinese Government, and the British Embassy here submitted the proposal on December 9 to the Minister for Foreign Affairs49 and General Chiang Kai Shek50 for consideration. The Japanese have promised if the plan is executed to lift the blockade of the British Concession in Tientsin and to cease the anti-British campaign in North China.51 Informant told me that he understood that the French Ambassador informed the Chinese authorities some time ago that if the British came to any understanding with the Japanese in regard to the silver in the British Concession the French would be obliged to act similarly in regard to the silver in the French Concession.
Repeated to Peiping; Peiping please mail to Tokyo.