706.6193/8: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Minister in China (Schurman)

191. Your 277, August 9, 11 a.m.

You are authorized to omit the suggested reservation contained in the Department’s 183, August 6, 2 p.m., provided the question of such a reservation is not raised by any representative of the other powers concerned who have, or who have not, recognized the Soviet regime. If you have reason to believe, however, that the suggested reservation would be accepted by your interested colleagues without the delay incident to a reference to their respective governments the Department considers that it would still be advisable to propose the reservation. If this is not deemed expedient you will endeavor to have the note amended so as to include the following paragraph:

“I am to add on behalf of my American colleague, that his action in acquiescing in the understanding embodied in this note in nowise constitutes or implies recognition on the part of the Government of the United States of the regime known as the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics.”

In view of the fact that the note to Karakhan will be signed by the Italian Minister instead of by yourself as Dean, and that certain changes in the text must necessarily be made in consequence thereof, it is suggested that such changes, in so far as they refer to your conversation of July 24 with Karakhan and to the note received by you from him, should avoid, as far as possible, the use of your name or title of American Minister, merely making reference to such negotiations and correspondence taking place between Karakhan and the “Dean of the Protocol Powers”.

Grew