793.94/5484: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 15—7:22 a.m.]
948. 1. In the course of a conversation the other day with Wellington Koo he brought up the question of part the United States might play in negotiations between China and Japan to settle Manchurian question. Koo expressed opinion that conditions in Japan and obstacles Japanese were fighting in Manchuria would force Japanese to a more conciliatory frame of mind. He expressed belief that when report of the Commission of League had been received by League and was under consideration the time would have arrived when the powers and the United States might come forward and suggest one of two ways of dealing with the situation.
[Page 202]2. Koo suggests (a) direct negotiations on the basis of proposals made by the Commission of League of Nations with the powers acting as observers or mediators or (b) that an international conference be held similar to Washington Conference.
3. In case of either (a) or (b) basis of discussion would be Nine-Power Treaty, Anti-War Treaty and Covenant of the League. Koo favored putting forward suggestion (b) first as Japanese do not want an international conference. Believes this a good weapon to hold over them and with which to drive them to accept as the lesser of the two evils suggestion (a).
Tokyo informed by mail.