793.003/1028: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State
[Received 11:20 p.m.]
6931. I have just received from Mr. Eden the following letter and enclosure dated December 7:
Begin Mr. Eden’s letter:
“Many thanks for your letter of the 2d December enclosing a message from the Department of State of the 1st December concerning coastal trade and inland navigation in China. (Department’s 6057, December 1, 9 p.m.)5
I enclose herein our comments on this subject which I hope will be taken into consideration by your Government. It is nevertheless to be feared that as a draft article making the maximum concession to the Chinese has already been shown to the Chinese Minister for Foreign Affairs the possibilities of negotiation will have been severely limited.
I take this opportunity to point out that on several occasions in the latest phase of the discussions the United States Government have, with the object of saving time, conceded to the Chinese points of great importance to His Majesty’s Government before our Ambassador in Chungking could be in a position to discuss them with the Chinese Government.
[Page 391]While we realize the political advantages of concluding an agreement without undue delay and appreciate to the full the collaboration of the United States Government in this matter, we are dealing with questions of the greatest importance to our commercial, financial and shipping interests in the Far East and the decisions which we reach now will have an inevitable effect on the negotiations for the comprehensive modern treaty to be concluded subsequently. We should have hoped therefore that before these decisions were taken we should have had sufficient time to consider the points at issue and to arrive at an agreement with the Chinese Government by orderly process of negotiation.
We do not feel that the reasons given by the Chinese Minister Counsellor in Washington for asking that the whole matter should be rushed through within a very brief period were of sufficient weight to override these considerations; and indeed according to my information the last session of the Central Executive Committee of the Kuomintang took place on the 2d December.
I observe from the Department of State dated 27th November (Department’s 5960, November 27, 3 p.m.) contained in your letter of the 28th November that the Department intend, for the sole purpose of cooperating with His Majesty’s Government, to suggest to the Chinese that the signing of the treaty be deferred for approximately 10 days. I shall be grateful if you will inform me from what date the 10 days will run.” End Mr. Eden’s letter.
Begin Foreign Office comments:
“The Foreign Office notes that in regard to coastal trade and inland navigation the Department of State have indicated to the Chinese three possible methods of proceeding and have requested the United States Ambassador at Chungking to show the Chinese Minister for Foreign Affairs the draft article on navigation previously contemplated by the Department for inclusion in the treaty.
The Foreign Office greatly prefer the original suggestion made in the Department’s communication to the Chinese Embassy of 27th November. (Department’s 6022, November 29, noon6), Sir Horace Seymour has been requested to make a similar proposal and we propose that he should make every effort to secure its acceptance. We trust that the Department of State will feel able to do the same.
If this cannot be achieved we should prefer that the whole matter should be reserved for the latter [later?] comprehensive treaties as suggested in the Department’s third course. The first solution from our point of view would be the inclusion of an article on the lines proposed, since its insertion in the United States treaty would make [Page 392] it much more difficult for us to obtain an understanding whereby the existing practice or some part of it would be retained on a reciprocal basis.” End Foreign Office comment.