793.94 Conference/276: Telegram
The Chairman of the American Delegation (Davis) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 20—8:15 a.m.]
47. Wellington Koo asked to see me this afternoon and I arranged for Hornbeck to see him instead.
Koo gave an outline of views telegraphed by his Government for presentation to the American, the British and the French delegations and supplied a lengthy aide-mémoire. Hornbeck inquired whether a similar approach had been made at Washington. Koo had not been informed.
The principal points covered in the aide-mémoire are as follows: the Chinese Government has decided for the purpose of maintaining a [Page 215] prolonged resistance to remove its seat to Chungking;4 but it is fully determined to defend Nanking and areas west thereof. Although there have been intimations from other quarters of a desire to mediate the Chinese Government has declined to entertain them because it had already appealed to the League and the Nine Power Treaty powers. Unfortunately these agencies have so far confined their efforts to verbal representations which have been without effect. Economic and material aid has been given China in some amounts but transportation has been impeded and now transit facilities in Indo-China have been refused. Unless the powers have no intention to find a solution of the Far Eastern problem the present is the moment at which to solve that problem. The best methods of assisting China would be to give her supplies and impose restrictions against Japan or intervene with force. The former may already prove too late. A joint forceful demonstration of a united front in order to persuade Japan to modify her attitude would involve no risk. The Chinese Government understands that the hesitancy of the Soviet Union to assist China is due to the refusal of France, Great Britain and the United States to assure her their joint support. The Chinese Government considers the situation now critical.
In comment upon the aide-mémoire and replying to an express question, Koo said that Russia apparently would be willing to give China military assistance at least a demonstration if the powers would guarantee her against an attack in Europe. Hornbeck, of course, said that he was sure that Koo realized that the United States could do nothing of the sort.
There followed discussion of various aspects of the Conference. Koo urged the desirability of setting up a small committee to carry on with the question of giving aid to China and the problem of bringing about negotiations for a settlement. At one point he inquired whether the United States and Great Britain might not undertake media[tion] and later he asked whether the United States might not do it alone. Hornbeck suggested certain difficulties which might attend either of these procedures.
Koo said that whereas China had not really entertained any substantial hope of assistance from abroad until this Conference was called, the calling of the Conference had aroused a substantial hope and the course thus far followed by the Conference had already produced disappointment. He was afraid that if the Conference closed without any constructive results there would be produced in China a great sense of discouragement. He hoped that the Conference would take some action which would tend to prevent that. Hornbeck gave no encouragement for an expectation that this hope would be fulfilled.
- For details, see vol. iii, pp. 682–706, passim.↩