File No. 861.00/877½
Memorandum of the Secretary of State of an interview with the Japanese Ambassador (Sato), December 27, 1917
The Ambassador called and introduced Baron Megata. After a brief conversation the Baron left and the Ambassador remained.
He first asked in regard to the situation in Russia and I told him that our purpose was to remain quiescent and await developments. He said that that was the view of his Government.
I then spoke to him about the situation at Vladivostok and told him that the view of this Government was that it would be Unwise for either the United States or Japan to send troops to Vladivostok as it would undoubtedly result in the unifying of the Russians under the Bolsheviks against foreign interference. He said to me that that was the exact view of his Government and that they have no intention of sending troops to Vladivostok for the same reason that we opposed it. He said that both Great Britain and France had made the suggestion but that the Japanese Government did not consider it wise to adopt the suggestion.
The Ambassador also told me that he had been called home and that he was leaving about January 10. I asked him if it was a recall and he said he did not know except, that his Government stated it desired to confer with him.
He then asked me whether there was any prospect of our sending a mission to Japan at this time.
I replied that he must realize that it would only do for us to send distinguished men to Japan, and that they must be representative of the Government; that at the present time every man who was suitable for such a mission was pressed into the service in connection with the war, and that to let any one of them go would be to weaken our war machine; and that of course our supreme object to-day was to win the war and we must devote all our energies to that end. I therefore thought that it was quite out of the question at present to think of sending a mission and I was sure he would understand the situation and could explain it fully to his Government.