893.113/87
The Ambassador in Italy (Johnson) to
the Acting Secretary of State
Rome, January 5,
1921.
[Received January 21.]
No. 262Sir: With further reference to my despatch No.
247 of December 20th last32 in connection with the reported transactions
in arms by Italy in China contrary to the arms embargo, I have the honor
to enclose herewith copy and translation of a communication received
from the Japanese Embassy in Rome concerning the declarations on the
subject made by the Japanese Ambassador, acting under instructions from
the Imperial Japanese Government, to the Italian Minister for Foreign
Affairs. This communication was received from the Japanese Embassy in
exchange for a copy of the Note addressed by this Embassy to the Foreign
Office on the subject32—which latter copy was requested by the
Japanese Embassy.
I have [etc.]
[Enclosure—Translation]
The Japanese Embassy in
Italy to the American
Embassy
The Japanese Embassy presents its compliments to the Embassy of the
United States of America and has the honor hereby to inform the
latter of the general trend of the communication made verbally by
the Japanese Ambassador to the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs
during an interview which took place on the 23d instant with regard
to the prohibition to import arms, etc. into China:
“After having referred to the Note Verbale of
December 18, 1919, addressed by the Japanese Embassy to the Italian
Ministry for Foreign Affairs relative to the prohibition to supply
arms, etc. to China, and after having pointed out the fact that, on
the one hand, according to the statement of the Italian Legation at
Peking the delivery of arms, ammunition, and other war material
deposited at Shanhaikwan would be forbidden, but that such embargo
would be raised if, in the judgment of the Italian Legation, the
political
[Page 536]
conditions of
China should permit, and that on the other hand there was a rumor of
traffic in the aforesaid goods between the Italians and the Chinese
at Shanghai—a rumor which the Italian Authorities in China were
reported to have thought necessary to deny,—the Japanese Ambassador,
in conformity with the instructions of his Government, requested the
Italian Minister for Foreign Affairs to give assurances concerning
the participation of the Italian Government in the prohibition to
import arms, ammunition and war material into China, and not to
raise such embargo until after a decision to be made by common
agreement between the interested powers.”
