File No. 774/772.

The Acting Secretary of State to Minister Calhoun.

[Telegram—Paraphrase.]

Mr. Wilson states that the fixing of September 15 by the United States for meeting of opium conference was purely tentative, according to the preparedness and convenience of the participating powers, and says, if necessary to the wishes of China, whose interests in the [Page 311] conference are so especially great, the Netherlands Government will no doubt postpone the meeting until October 15.

Mr. Wilson directs the legation to make clear the views of the United States, and adds that besides a tentative program the Government of the United States will submit to the conference tentative subjects of discussion based on reservations and views already expressed by the various powers to the department. Mr. Calhoun is instructed to explain that it is merely a matter of convenience whether China communicates its views and reservations to the United States at this time or prefers to first express them at the conference which will draw up the final program.