The Acting Secretary of State to Chargé Fletcher.
Washington, December 15, 1909.
Mr. Wilson directs Mr. Fletcher to point out to the Chinese Government the immense advantage to it which would result from the proposed plan of commercial neutralization of the railways in Manchuria, and says that while seeking its approval of the project as a whole he will, in cooperation with the British representative at Peking, urge China, as a preliminary step in the larger plan, to consent to participation by Japan and other interested powers in the construction of the Chinchow-Aigun line. Instructs him to press for early publication of edict formally ratifying concession already signed.