793.94/821: Telegram
The Minister in China (Reinsch) to the Acting Secretary of State19
[Received May 23, 7.45 a.m.]
American Chamber of Commerce of China request following statement be given the President and the Secretary of State:
“Americans in China view with gravest concern the decision of Peace Conference to give over to Japan German rights and interest in Shantung, irrespective of pledges which Japan will make to return these to China, unless those pledges are accompanied with guarantees which make it [patent] to all that they will be made effective within reasonable time, otherwise all pledges regarding the maintenance of the Open Door, of equal opportunity, will become mere scraps of paper and China is endangered with a militarism controlled by Japan which may involve the world in another great catastrophe. American Chamber of Commerce of China.”
- Transmitted to the Commission to Negotiate Peace by telegram No. 2082, May 24.↩