Historical Documents - Office of the Historian

811.203/281: Telegram

The Chargé in China (Atcheson) to the Secretary of State

Chungking, May 17, 1943—1 p.m.
[Received May 18—6:58 a.m.]

724. Department’s 210, February 10, 7 p.m.

1.: It has been arranged with Foreign Office that the exchange of notes in regard to question of jurisdiction over American military personnel stationed in China will be signed at Foreign Office Friday morning May 21. As agreed upon between Embassy and Foreign Office, the final texts of the notes, in which are incorporated some minor phraseological changes from the original drafts, will read as in Embassy’s 7258 to follow.
2.: The Embassy will, following the signing of the notes, notify Department by telegraph that the notes have been signed.
3.: Copies of the notes, when signed, with Chinese translation, will be furnished General Stilwell’s headquarters and it is assumed that Department will wish to furnish copies to War Department. The Foreign Office requests that following signature the Department furnish copies to Chinese Embassy at Washington. Chinese translations, with typed copies, will go forward in due course to Department by mail.

The Foreign Office states that it will publish texts of notes immediately after signature.

Atcheson