893.00/5186

The Minister in China (Schurman) to the Secretary of State

No. 1738

Sir: With reference to my telegram No. 283, of August 12, 11 a.m.,19 regarding the probability of an outbreak of hostilities between the Military Governors of Kiangsu and Chekiang Provinces, I have the honor to transmit herewith a copy of the joint note on [Page 516] the matter which my French, British and Japanese Colleagues and I addressed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on August 11th.

I have [etc.]

Jacob Gould Schurman
[Enclosure]

The Ministers of the United States, France, Great Britain, and Japan to the Chinese Minister for Foreign Affairs (Wellington Koo)

Your Excellency: We, the undersigned Ministers of the United States, France, Great Britain and Japan, have been disturbed of late by recurrent reports that there is the possibility of an outbreak of hostilities between the high provincial authorities of Kiangsu and Chekiang. While entirely ignorant of the degree of credence to be attached to these reports we nevertheless feel it our duty to remind the Chinese Government of the enormous foreign interests that exist in the region of Shanghai, which the Chinese Government is by treaty under obligation to protect, to call attention to the incalculable losses and injuries which would inevitably result to those interests from the conduct of military operations in the region indicated, and to emphasize in the most solemn manner the inescapable obligations of the Chinese Government effectively to prevent loss of life and property to members of the foreign community in and about Shanghai.

We, the undersigned, are constrained to add that in the event that the Government of China, or the authorities of the provinces concerned, fail to afford to these legitimate interests the protection which it is the right of our respective nationals to expect, we shall hold the Chinese Government accountable for all consequent injuries and shall adopt such measures and utilize such means as are available to us to afford requisite protection to foreign residents, and to our trade and property, at or near Shanghai.

Accept [etc.]

  • Jacob Gould Schurman
  • C. de fleuriau
  • Ronald Macleay
  • Y. Yoshizawa
  1. Not printed.