693.119/353: Telegram
The Minister in China (Crane) to the Secretary of State
[Received 11:39 p.m.]
267. My 266, September 23, 4 p.m. Following is identic telegram being sent to-day:
“The British, the French, the Japanese, and American Legations sensible of the benefits to China resulting from the embargo on arms voluntarily entered into by the interested powers over a year ago view with apprehension the actions of Italian nationals now attempting to import arms into China. The Italian Legation admits the presence at Shanhaikuan of a very large stock of Italian munitions. Part of these have already been disposed of and the rest can be released for sale at the discretion of the Italian Legation when they consider the political situation justifies it. Furthermore negotiations at Shanghai between Italians and Chinese have aroused public opinion and obliged the Italian authorities to issue official denials. These latter however do not contain sufficient guarantees for the future. As therefore this threatened Italian arms traffic not only jeopardizes the existence of the embargo the continuation of which [Page 750] the four Governments earnestly desire but also places the merchants of these four countries at a disadvantage as compared with Italian merchant[s], the four Legations believe that the moment has come for a response [reiteration?] by the interested Governments of their adherence to the embargo and for a pressing invitation to be extended to the Italian Government formally to renew the earlier assurances of a year ago by Count Sforza and to consent officially to leave to the joint decision [of] the interested powers the duty of fixing for all of them the date for removing the embargo, such decision to control the date of disposition on Italian munitions now in China. Failing such assurances it is to be feared that other governments may feel justified in resuming their liberty of action.[”]