Office of the Historian

893.00/4467

The Ambassador in Japan (Warren) to the Secretary of State

[Extract]
Tokyo, May 26, 1922.
[Received June 15.]
No. 227

Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith a statement handed to me on May 16th by Count Uchida, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, outlining the attitude assumed by the Japanese Government with respect to the factional disturbances now taking place in North [Page 709] China. This statement was not telegraphed to the Department, as the Embassy was assured by the local agency of the Associated Press that it would be telegraphed in its entirety to the United States.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

I have [etc.]

Charles B. Warren
[Enclosure]

Statement by the Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs (Uchida)

Tokyo, May 16, 1922.

There is no reason to pre-suppose any change in the situation (or the necessity for any change in the attitude or policy of Japan) in Manchuria because of the recent announcement on independence. Of course, the interests of Japan in the Province are very large indeed, and the relations between the Chinese people in Manchuria and the Japanese have been very close for the last fifteen years and have been increasingly cordial. So long as life and property are safeguarded there is no reason why we should anticipate trouble.

Japan remains strictly neutral in every way. We shall give no assistance to either side but will hope for an early adjustment of differences which at present are harmful only to China and China’s prestige abroad.