793.94/5794
The Department of State to the British Embassy
Aide-Mémoire
Referring to the British Embassy’s aide-mémoire of January 23 expressing views of the British Government with regard to the possible desirability of making representations in a friendly manner to the Japanese Government expressive of anxiety in connection with alleged abuses of privileges at Shanhaikwan,—
The Department, while desiring that the American Government act in cooperation as far as possible and practicable with the other powers concerned, would welcome, before expressing its views with regard to this proposed action, specific information with regard to the alleged abuse by the Japanese in their action at Shanhaikwan of the special privileges accorded them under the Protocol of 1901. The Department would welcome some indication of the British Government’s views with regard to the objective to be sought in the making of such representations, some exposition of the British Government’s ideas with regard to what should be the substance and composition of the proposed friendly representations, if and when made, and the British Government’s estimate of the likelihood that such representations would be of any advantageous effect.