793.003 C 73/116: Telegram
The Minister in China (Schurman) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 16—9:37 a.m.]
60. My telegram no. 400, December 14, 5 [3] p.m.40 The Chinese Minister for Foreign Affairs at interview February 13 again expressed a desire to know nature of the reply received from each government. He expressed gratitude for past good offices of the United States and requested their continuance. The following unofficial record of his remarks left with me by a secretary of the Foreign Office on February 15, 3 p.m., is correct:
“The Minister of Foreign Affairs requested Dr. Schurman to telegraph to Mr. Hughes requesting his good offices to prevail on the signatory powers for the despatch of the Commission of Inquiry of Extraterritorial Jurisdiction to come to China in November next. In making this request, the Minister suggested the following reasons:
- 1.
- One of the main objects of the Washington Conference was to promote better international cooperation. The United States being the convener of the conference, China naturally looks upon it as the intermediary through whom to arrange for the execution of the treaties and agreements made at Washington in her interest. If there should be any, there ought to be a frank exchange of views. It was, therefore, hoped that the State Department would not hesitate to inform China fully as regards the real situation concerning the visit of the Commission this November. If China knew which powers were not able to agree to the suggested extension of one year, she could explain her point of view in regard to it.
- 2.
- China has been hoping that the signatory powers who attended the Washington Conference would carry out the covenants made at Washington as early as possible.
- 3.
- The nonfulfillment of the covenants in the present case may be seized as a precedent by other powers who may not be anxious to carry out the terms of the other treaties and agreements.
- 4.
- Since there was a special resolution providing that the powers are free to accept or reject all or any portion of the recommendations of the Commission, it does not seem necessary for the powers to take [Page 522] a collective attitude and share the responsibility for delaying the visit of the Commission.
- 5.
- The early despatch of the Commission will further demonstrate the importance of the Washington Conference to the Chinese people and stimulate the interest and encourage them to get together to solve their political problems.”
In reply to Dr. Koo’s question regarding the attitude of each of the individual governments, I replied that I was not fully informed on these conditions.
The danger of further delay in the visit of the Commission affects Dr. Koo very strongly, the more so [as] he was one of China’s delegates to the Washington Conference.