893.102 Tientsin/693: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 22—10:10 a.m.]
286. The following is the text of a declaration made public by the Chinese Government of June 21 according to the semi-official Central News Agency in regard to the settlement of the Tientsin silver issue.
“With regard to the silver now stored in the British Concession at Tientsin, the Chinese Government desire to place on record the point already repeatedly emphasized in the recent conversations between the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the British Ambassador on the subject, to the effect that the silver in question is the property of the Bank of Communications and part of the reserve fund for Fapi. The Chinese Government further records its view that the British Government are acting as trustees for the interest of the Bank of Communications and the Chinese Government in respect of the balance of the silver after a quantity equivalent to 100,000 pounds sterling has been set aside by the Chinese Government for relief purposes in North China. Consequently the arrangement now made for sealing the silver does not alter its status in any respect.”
Sent to the Department, repeated to Peiping, Tientsin, Shanghai. Shanghai please mail to Tokyo.