893.51/5157: Telegram
The Minister in China (MacMurray) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 29—5:30 a.m.]
522. Legation’s 499, June 21, 2 p.m., and 517, June 27, 4 p.m.86 Following from the American Consul at Nanking, dated June 28, 4 p.m.: [Page 824]
Reference my telegram of June 24, 11 a.m. The British Minister today informed me that his Government, responding to his request for instructions, had replied that the Chinese proposals had been so sweeping it would not be possible to formulate instructions prior to the return of Sir Miles Lampson to Peking. Therefore, with all negotiations suspended, Sir Miles is leaving tomorrow, June 29, for Shanghai en route north.
Respecting the rumor that the British Boxer Indemnity would be employed to complete the Lung-Hai Railway, Sir Miles said his Government had instructed him to remind the Chinese Minister for Foreign Affairs—and this Sir Miles had done—of the existing contractual obligations in respect of railway construction which the British Government expected to be fulfilled by the Chinese Government, referring naturally to the Hukuang Agreement 1911.
- Latter not printed.↩