793.003/10–2442
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Chief of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs (Hamilton)
| Participants: | The Secretary of State, and |
| The Chinese Ambassador, Dr. Wei Tao-ming | |
| Present: | Mr. Liu Chieh, Minister-Counselor of the Chinese Embassy |
| Mr. Hackworth | |
| Mr. Hamilton |
The Chinese Ambassador called this morning at the Secretary’s request. The Ambassador was accompanied by the Minister-Counselor of the Chinese Embassy, Mr. Liu Chieh.
The Secretary first expressed his regret at having been detained at his apartment by an unexpected matter. The Secretary then said that we had been working on the matter of a draft of an extraterritoriality treaty which we might give the Chinese Government for its consideration and that in preparing a draft we had proceeded along broad general lines in the thought that such a procedure would be the most satisfactory to both our Governments. The Secretary continued that we had completed a draft, which he thereupon handed to the Ambassador.59 The Secretary added that the step which we were taking was one which, as the Ambassador knew, we had long wished to take and that it represented a practical manifestation of this country’s foreign policy. The Secretary said that he was of course personally gratified at the step.
The Secretary said that we had in mind informing the press in response to inquiries that the Secretary had handed the Ambassador a draft treaty for the consideration of the Chinese Government.
The Secretary informed the Ambassador that we were of course not making public the text of the draft treaty and that we assumed that the two Governments would regard the text as strictly confidential pending conclusion of discussions. The Ambassador indicated his concurrence.
The Secretary inquired whether there were any points which the Ambassador wished to raise. The Ambassador said that he would forward the text to his Government and that they would first like to read and examine the text. The Secretary said that that of course was natural and that we would be here available for discussion in case any question should occur to the Chinese Government.
The Ambassador commented smilingly that it was hoped that this whole matter could be disposed of rapidly.
[Page 333]The interview was friendly and cordial, and after a few moments the Ambassador and Mr. Liu departed.
- Infra. ↩