793.003/1055c: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in China (Gauss)
1293. The following telegram has been sent to London:31
“As indicated in our 6636, December 29, 9 p.m. (1281, December 29, 9 p.m., to Chungking),32 there remain for adjustment a few points in regard to the Chinese text of our treaty. We would assume that there are some similar points in regard to the Chinese text of the British treaty. We are wondering what may be the thought of the British Government and of the Chinese Government on the subject of having, where there is identity of language in the British and the American treaties, similar identity of language in the Chinese texts. We shall take this up with the Chinese today (December 31). The adjustments which we find necessary cannot be completed and the engrossing of the English and the Chinese texts be completed in time for signature on January 1. We therefore suggest that date for signature be not set until all details of translation, agreement on texts and engrossing are completed and all parties are fully ready to sign. Dates or hours for signatures could then quickly be decided upon without likelihood of hitch. We feel that it would be desirable to have the British and the American treaties signed at approximately the same hour.”
We took up this matter with the Chinese Minister Counselor on December 31. The Minister Counselor stated that the Chinese Embassy would immediately communicate to the Chinese Foreign Office by telegraph a suggestion that the Chinese texts of the Sino-American and Sino-British treaties be identical where identity of language occurs in the English texts.