893.113/539
The Minister in China (Schurman) to the Secretary of State
Peking, July 25,
1923.
[Received August 21.]
No. 1689
Sir: With reference to the last paragraph of my
telegram No. 46 of February 9, 6 p.m.,54 regarding the arms embargo and the proposal to
withhold naval assistance to China, I have the honor to transmit
herewith for the Department’s information a copy of Dean Circular No.
187 of July 13th regarding the agreement of the Netherlands
[Page 618]
and Japanese Ministers to the
formula proposed by the American Government regarding the question of
withholding naval assistance to China.
I have [etc.]
[Enclosure 1]
Circular by the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps in
China (De Freitas)
Peking, July 13,
1923.
Circular No. 187
The Dean has the honour to circulate herewith for the information of
his Honourable Colleagues, a letter from H. E. The Netherlands
Minister55
regarding a proposal submitted on January 23, 1923, by H. E. the
American Minister to the effect that the Representatives of the
Treaty Powers in Peking should recommend to their respective
Governments the withholding of assistance from China in connection
with the construction of naval vessels, arsenals, and dockyards,
etc. H. E. The Netherlands Minister has been authorized by his
Government to concur in this proposal on condition that it be agreed
by other Governments represented in Peking.
Monsieur de Freitas would be glad to learn whether his Honourable
Colleagues have received similar authorization.
[Enclosure 2]
Observation by the Japanese Minister in
China (Yoshida) on
Circular No. 187 by the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps at
Peking (De Freitas)
At the Diplomatic Body Meeting of February 9th last, I had an
occasion to mention that the latter part of the formula reading “…
nor shall these Governments give any support or countenance to their
respective nationals in securing such concessions, etc.” differed in
substance from the wording “… should not be undertaken by foreign
Governments or by their nationals etc.” which formed the
corresponding part of the understanding proposed by the American
Government and agreed to by several Governments in July 1922. H. E.
The American Minister was then so good as to explain to me that this
discrepancy was due to a certain legal difficulty which had been
found afterward by his Government and which, he believed, the other
Governments concerned had already been informed of.
[Page 619]
Having reported the above to my Government I have been in receipt of
a communication to the effect that my Government are willing to
accept the proposal which, so far as I understand, has not as yet
been made to them by the American Government.
Peking, July 16,
1923.
Isaburo Yoshida
