693.119/273
The Minister in China (Reinsch) to
the Acting Secretary of State
Peking, May 10,
1919.
[Received June
7.]
No. 2725
Sir: In continuation of my despatch No. 2663 of
April 4th94 I have the
honor to enclose copies of the following documents: (1) an answer from
the Japanese Minister dated April 13th94 to my note of April 3rd,94 and (2) joint note sent to the
Foreign Office on May 5th relating to the restriction of import of arms
and ammunition into China.
In this connection I have the honor to report that at a meeting of the
Diplomatic Corps on May 3rd when the above action was definitely decided
upon, I made the statement that it was my understanding that the
restrictions contemplated included all the Leased Territories in China
such as, among others, Tsingtau and Dairen. This understanding was
specifically stated to be correct by all the Ministers present,
including the British, French and Japanese.
At a meeting of the Diplomatic Corps on April 26th in which it was
decided upon principle to take the action reported on, I stated that the
American Government would not after this issue export licenses for arms
and ammunition with destination to China; and that therefore no arms or
ammunition not shipped before that date could be imported into China. I
repeated this statement on May 3rd.
The reception which will be given to the action of the Powers in this
matter by the different parties in China is not yet apparent. The
interruption of all telegraphic communication keeps matters at a
standstill.
I have [etc.]
[Page 670]
[Enclosure]
The Dean of the Diplomatic Corps in China
(Jordan)
to the Chinese Acting Minister of Foreign
Affairs (Ch’en
Lu)
Sir: The Diplomatic Body in considering the
present state of disunion between North and South in China have been
impressed by the fact that the continued possibility of importing
military arms and ammunition into the country from abroad could not
but exercise a disturbing influence, and as the friendly Powers here
represented are firmly determined to discountenance any condition or
action which might favour the reversion to hostilities, I am desired
by my Colleagues to make the following communication to the Chinese
Government.
The Governments of Great Britain, Spain, Portugal, the United States,
Russia, Brazil, France and Japan have agreed effectively to restrain
their subjects and citizens from exporting to or importing into
China arms and munitions of war and material destined exclusively
for their manufacture until the establishment of a government whose
authority is recognized throughout the whole country and also to
prohibit during the above period the delivery of arms and munitions
for which contracts have already been made but not executed.
The Representatives of the Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium and Italy
are also in full accord with the above policy, but await the
instructions of their respective Governments before announcing the
adhesion of the latter.
The Foreign Representatives desire to express the earnest hope that
the Chinese Government in keeping with this policy will on their
part agree to suspend the issue of permits to import military arms,
ammunition and munitions of war and will direct the Customs that the
introduction of such articles is absolutely prohibited.
[I avail myself, etc.
