741.94/114a
The Department of State to the Chinese Embassy93
The Department understands and sympathizes with the desire of the Chinese Government to know what possibilities, if any, may be under discussion between British and Japanese officials in regard to Far Eastern matters. However, the Department has no reason to believe that any projects which would be injurious to China’s interests or in impairment of China’s rights are being given any serious consideration in such conversations. It seems obvious that the British Government and British interests are at this time cultivating the good will of the Chinese Government and people. It would also seem obvious that any project on the part of any power or powers looking toward any partitioning of China either political or economic would be stultifying to the interests of such power or powers as committed themselves in favor thereof. The Department will of course endeavor to keep informed of any concrete developments such as negotiations which may arise out of conversations held between British and Japanese officials. However, to the Department it seems that it would not be the part of wisdom for this Government to intrude by making an express request at this time that the British Government inform it with regard to something which the Department does not believe to be under discussion.
The Department believes it desirable and requests that no publicity be given to this exchange of views.
- Notation by the Assistant Chief of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs (Hamilton) on May 11: “Mr. Hornbeck handed a copy of the attached statement to the Chinese Ambassador as record of an informal oral reply to an oral question put by the Chinese Ambassador.”↩