File No. 793.94/461.
Department Memorandum.
Office of the Secretary,
Washington, February 16, 1915.
The Japanese Ambassador called today and I brought to his attention the fact that the newspapers kept reporting larger demands than those enumerated in the memorandum handed by him to the Department a few days ago. He said he had noticed the newspaper statements and denied the truth of them. I asked him whether he thought it possible that any demands had been made not included in the memorandum which he gave us and he expressed himself as certain that the memorandum included everything. I asked him whether he had any idea as to the influences that were responsible for these exaggerations and he said he did not. I asked him whether it was possible that the German influences in China might be responsible and he said that while they might, they had no evidence upon which to make such a charge.