793.003/1010: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Gauss) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 25—2:55 p.m.]
1385. For the Secretary and Under Secretary. During a visit to Foreign Minister this morning he mentioned the matter of the extraterritoriality treaty and said as there appears to be general agreement with no important outstanding differences he hopes the treaty can be signed without delay; in fact he would like to see it signed on Thursday85 in order that the Generalissimo might announce its conclusion at the final meeting of the Central Executive Committee on 28th. I replied that my information led me to believe there are no important outstanding differences but that several of the Chinese proposed amendments are not entirely acceptable in their present form and this might require a very brief delay for consultation and redrafting, but that I know that the American Government is most desirous of early conclusion of the treaty. Referring to the Chinese proposals, Soong said he had sent instructions to the Chinese Ambassador at Washington not to be insistent on them. Referring to the proposed new article I, he said that if it is not entirely acceptable his Ambassador has been told to omit it; and the same with reference to other suggestions. In short, China and America have mutual faith and trust; he regards the broad general lines of the draft treaty as evidencing that faith and trust; and he wants no quibbling and “insistence upon the letter of the law”. He mentioned the Ta Kung Pao editorials and said he has no patience with those who propose restrictions on foreigners in China.
- November 26.↩