793.94/2710: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
It is currently rumored in Nanking that there is some sort of rapprochement on the subject of Manchuria between Japan and the United States. These rumors have grown from the fact of the decision by the United States not to send an observer to the League Council meeting in Paris but to send Ambassador Dawes who will take no part in the Council meetings. This, it is being said, is a concession to Japan. When Dr. Wellington Koo called on me today, I mentioned these rumors and he stated that the American decision against sending observers had caused a good deal of speculation in high official circles. He stated also that Nanking understood Japan recently had addressed a note to the United States Government, this was being kept secret, but the Department had made the comment that it offered a solution of the Manchurian problem which should satisfy both parties.
Koo, a member of President Chiang’s foreign policy commission, expressed his belief that a solution must be found at this League Council meeting. I gathered that the Chinese are prepared to start direct discussions with the Japanese under League auspices or with observers appointed by the League. Naturally such a conference would be obliged to take into account the entire problem of Manchuria. Koo freely admits that this problem cannot be settled to the entire satisfaction of either Japan or China because of their conflict of desires and interests. However, he feels hopeful of finding a temporary settlement through an agreement which would place Manchuria’s [Page 460] economic development upon such a basis as to permit all countries to participate.
The foregoing came out casually during our conversation and, of course, is to be regarded as confidential and without committing anyone. It is reported merely as an indication of the trend of thought of a responsible member of the organization which is handling Chinese foreign affairs, and he insists that China never can concede either the validity of the Japanese treaties of 1915 or the Manchurian territory to Japan.
Can the Department provide me with any information to be used here in allaying suspicions concerning the course the United States is taking in regard to the Manchurian problem during the forthcoming League Council meeting?
- Telegram in two sections.↩