793.94 Conference/117: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 27—10:55 a.m.]
499. Our 498, October 27, 7 p.m. The following is the text in translation of the reply of the Japanese Government:
“Japanese Government have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the Embassy’s note verbale under the date of the 20th instant, by which the Royal Government, in accordance with the request of the Government of Great Britain, and with the approbation of the Government of the United States only, propose to the powers signatory to the Treaty of February 6, 1922, to meet at Brussels on the 30th of this month in order to examine, in conformity with the article 7 of the said Treaty, the situation in the Far East and to study for further means of hastening the end of the regrettable conflict which is taking place there.
The League of Nations, in the report adopted on the 6th of the month, has declared on the basis of the declarations of only one of the two parties that the military operations carried on by Japan in China are a violation of the Nine Power Treaty. The action of Japan in China is a measure of self defense which she has been compelled to take in the face of China’s violent anti-Japanese policy and practice, especially by her provocative acts appealing to force of arms; and consequently, it lies, as has been declared already by the Imperial Government, outside the purview of the Nine Power Treaty.
[Page 113]The Assembly of the League of Nations has even gone the length of assuring China of its moral support and of recommending to its members to abstain from any action that might weaken that country’s power of resistance and add to its difficulties in the present conflict, and also to study how they might individually give aid to China. This is to take no account of the just intention of the Imperial Government, who propose to bring about sincere cooperation between Japan and China, to assure enduring peace in East Asia, and to contribute thereby to the peace of the world. This is to take sides with one of the parties and to encourage its hostile disposition, but in no way to contribute to an early settlement.
The Royal Government make in their invitation no mention of the connection between the proposed Conference and the League of Nations. However, in view of the fact that in its resolution, the League of Nations has suggested a meeting of those of its members who are party to the Nine Power Treaty, and that the Government of the United States, who have acquiesced in the request of the Government of Great Britain for the convocation of the Conference, have declared on October 6 their approval of the resolution, the Imperial Government cannot but conclude that the convocation of the Conference is linked to the resolution of the League of Nations. Now the League of Nations, as mentioned above, has expressed its views casting reflections upon the honor of Japan, and it has adopted a resolution which is incontestably unfriendly towards her. In these circumstances, the Imperial Government are constrained to believe that frank and full discussion to bring about a just, equitable and realistic solution of the conflict between Japan and China, cannot be expected between the powers concerned at the proposed Conference.
Moreover, the present Sino-Japanese conflict arising from the special situation of East Asia has a vital bearing upon the very existence of the two countries. The Imperial Government are firmly convinced that an attempt to seek a solution at a gathering of so many powers whose interests in East Asia are of varying degrees, or who have practically no interests there at all, will only serve to complicate the situation still further and to put serious obstacles in the path of a just and proper solution.
For these reasons explained above, the Imperial Government regret their inability to accept the invitation of the Royal Government.
The present conflict has been caused by none other than the Chinese Government, who for these many years have been engaged as a matter of national policy in disseminating anti-Japanese sentiment and encouraging anti-Japanese movements in China, and who, in collusion with the Communist elements, have menaced the peace of East Asia by their virulent agitation against Japan. Consequently, what is most urgently needed for a solution of the conflict is a realization on the part of the Chinese Government of the common responsibility of Japan and China respecting the stability of East Asia, a revision of their attitude, and a change of their policy to that of cooperation between the two countries. What Japan asks of the powers is that they comprehend fully this need. Their cooperation based upon such comprehension can alone, she believes, contribute effectively towards the stabilization of East Asia.”