893.113/1161: Telegram

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

76. Your 94, February 8, 4 p.m.

1.
Department favors immediate cancellation of agreement concerning withholding of naval assistance as well as of arms embargo agreement of 1919 unless you and your colleague[s] consider present disturbances make such action for the moment inadvisable. Department has no objection to section of draft of note and to draft of resolution as given in your paragraph 2 and leaves to your discretion matter of phraseology to be adopted.
2.
In view of Washington Conference Resolution No. XI87 and the Washington treaties limiting naval armament and relating to principles and policies concerning China,88 and for reasons of general [Page 526] expediency, Department at present deems it undesirable to attempt to effect an understanding or arrangement as proposed in your paragraph 3.
Kellogg