Memorandum:
Request for Minutes of a Council Meeting Regarding Shantung
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The minutes of this meeting of the Council were kept by Sir Maurice Hankey. President Wilson had no one with him.
Subsequently Mr. Lansing asked serveral times for copies of the minutes of this meeting. They were never secured. On July 5 Sir Maurice Hankey gave the Chinese Delegation a confidential memorandum based on the minutes, summarizing assurances given by the Japanese. Upon the day of the departure for the United States, the President was given a copy of the original minutes. This went with him to the United States.
Cancelled REL
I beg to suggest: that the American Delegation ask Mr. Balfour for a copy of these minutes, and that, if the request is not promptly acceded to, a request be sent to President Wilson for a comprehensive precis (which should be prepared by the Chief of the Far Eastern Division of the State Department), at once by cable.