793.003/971
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Chief of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs (Hamilton)52
| Participants: | Dr. T. V. Soong, Minister for Foreign Affairs of China |
| Mr. Hornbeck | |
| Mr. Hamilton |
Dr. Soong called at his initiative on Mr. Hornbeck and Mr. Hamilton, who, in order to save Dr. Soong’s time, received Dr. Soong together.
Dr. Soong said that he had wished to call before leaving on a trip to China. He said that he planned to depart from Washington on Thursday.
Dr. Soong said that he had received a telegram from Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek asking Dr. Soong to call on the Secretary of State and to express appreciation of this Government’s action on October 9 in reference to the question of extraterritoriality. Dr. Soong referred [Page 310] to the fact that the Secretary of State was away and said that he had an appointment to see Mr. Welles tomorrow to express to him the Generalissimo’s appreciation.
When Dr. Soong made initial reference to the question of extraterritoriality, Mr. Hornbeck smilingly asked (having previously been authorized by Mr. Welles to mention such matter very informally and casually) why Dr. Soong did not stay in Washington to assist in negotiation of the treaty abrogating American extraterritorial jurisdiction in China. Dr. Soong at first seemed to give serious consideration to this query and asked whether Mr. Hornbeck thought it would be all right for him to suggest to the War Department that the War Department, which was making a plane available to Dr. Soong for the trip, postpone the departure of the plane for a week or so. Mr. Hornbeck pointed out that we of course could give no guarantee as to how long the negotiation of the treaty might take, but that it had occurred to us that it would be nice if Dr. Soong were here to assist in the matter. Mr. Hamilton mentioned that Dr. Soong had signed the tariff treaty of 192853 and the lend-lease agreement,54 and that the extraterritoriality treaty might have served to round out the picture. Mr. Hornbeck said that of course with Dr. Soong in Chungking he could assist in the matter at that end, and from this point the conversation proceeded on a basis of tacit assumption that Dr. Soong would leave on Thursday as planned.
Dr. Soong raised a number of questions in regard to the scope of the proposed treaty. To these questions Mr. Hornbeck and Mr. Hamilton commented to the effect that we had not at this moment worked out everything in precise detail; that we did not expect that the proposed treaty would cover completely every question; that we were, however, taking a very big step; that some questions, especially those of detail, could probably be taken care of to better advantage at some subsequent time; that we were concentrating on the question of consular jurisdiction and what related to it; that we planned to present a brief treaty rather than a long, detailed one; and that we were attempting to include broad basic items with regard to which no controversial matters would be likely to be presented and which would be generally supported in both our countries.
Dr. Soong inquired when we thought the draft would be ready for presentation to the Chinese Government. Mr. Hornbeck referred to the fact that the Acting Secretary had informed the Chinese Ambassador last Friday that we hoped to have the draft ready within a week. Mr. Hornbeck added that, as Dr. Soong knew from his practical experience, [Page 311] no absolute guarantee as to time could be given in any such matter.
Dr. Soong in his whole approach was very friendly, appreciative, and understanding. As he left he expressed his adieus and Mr. Hornbeck and Mr. Hamilton extended their good wishes to Dr. Soong for a pleasant, safe, and profitable trip to Chungking.
- Approved by Mr. Hornbeck.↩
- Signed at Peking, July 25, 1928, Foreign Relations, 1928, vol. ii, p. 475.↩
- Signed at Washington, June 2, 1942, Department of State Executive Agreement Series No. 251, or 56 Stat. 1494; see also post, pp. 566 ff.↩