Office of the Historian

793.94/8945

The Department of State to the French Embassy50

Washington, July 21, 1937.

The American Ambassador in China has informed the Department of State by cable51 of the proposal made by the French Ambassador in China that the diplomatic representatives in China of the principally interested powers address identic letters to the Japanese Ambassador and to the Chairman of the Hopei–Chahar Political Council in regard to the principle of freedom of communications between Peiping and the sea.

In reply to the American Ambassador’s request for instructions, the Department of State telegraphed52 the Ambassador stating that we were not enthusiastic over the proposal but that we would not interpose objection to his participating along with the French and British and other Embassies if the Ambassadors decided it advisable to make such a move. The American Ambassador was informed that the Department of State would prefer that, if any such move were to be made, the move be made by the respective Ambassadors as a local one taken on their own initiative.

  1. Transmitted to the French Chargé on July 23 by the Chief of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs in confirmation of a telephone conversation on July 21.↩
  2. Telegram No. 257, July 18, 4 p.m., p. 201.↩
  3. Telegram No. 129, July 20, 5 p.m., p. 223.↩