500.A41a/74a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in China (Schurman)
319. Internal differences which have arisen within the Chinese delegation cause grave concern to the friends of China. During [Page 275] the earlier part of the Conference their reasonable attitude had aroused the admiration of the public and of the other delegations, but a regrettable change has recently become manifest. Partly doubtless as a result of pressure from home and possibly through bad advice based on lack of knowledge of the full facts, certain members of the delegation have taken the attitude that no accommodation or compromise can be considered even in unimportant matters.
Tyau’s51 resignation … and Wang’s52 threat to resign unless there is a more uncompromising attitude, have limited the freedom of action of Sze53 and Koo54 in presenting the case of China in a way to take the greatest advantage of opportunities, and consequently have restricted their usefulness as representatives of China’s interests.
If the Chinese Government and influential public bodies in China should withdraw support from these delegates and force them in self-defense to abandon an attitude of helpfulness and conciliation for one of uncompromising obstruction, the result would be to dissipate the sympathy and confidence they have thus far commanded, and react very unfavorably upon the work of the Conference in general and more particularly upon China’s position.
You may discreetly use this information as a suitable occasion offers, and make clear the very real danger that a policy of insisting obstinately upon impractical points of view may defeat the hopes of China and of China’s friends that the Conference may help in ameliorating some at least of the existing unfortunate conditions.