Office of the Historian

893.113/348

The British Embassy to the Department of State

Aide Memoire

Through their representatives at the capitals concerned, the United States Government recently proposed to the British, French, Belgian, Dutch, Italian, Portuguese and Japanese Governments the adoption of the amended resolution drafted at the Washington Conference which reads as follows:—

  • “(1) The United States of America, Belgium, the British Empire, France, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands and Portugal affirm their intention to refrain from exporting to China arms or munitions of war, whether complete or in parts, and to prohibit such exportation from their territories or territories under their control, until the establishment of a Government whose authority is recognised throughout the whole of China.
  • “(2) Each of the above powers will forthwith take such additional steps as may be necessary to make the above restrictions immediately binding.
  • “(3) The scope of this resolution includes all concessions and settlements in China.
  • “(4) The United States of America will invite the adherence to this resolution of the other powers in treaty relations with China.”

In a note addressed to the American Ambassador in London, dated July 19th,80 His Britannic Majesty’s Government acknowledged the receipt of this proposal and, while undertaking to govern their policy in accordance with its terms, urged that the time had come when the whole question of the Chinese arms embargo should be reviewed by the diplomatic representatives at Peking in order that the embargo might be not only reaffirmed but, if thought desirable, extended and more precisely defined. In particular, it is the opinion of His Majesty’s Government, as already expressed to the United States Government in Sir Auckland Geddes’ note No. 464 of June 16th, that the embargo should be made to include materials and tools destined directly or indirectly for the manufacture of arms or munitions of war, arsenal equipment, and personnel to supervise or assist in the [Page 741] use or manufacture of such arms and munitions and the training of such personnel. In the note addressed to Mr. Harvey on July 19th it was added that satisfactory replies to this proposal for referring the question to the diplomatic representatives at Peking had been received from the Belgian, French, German, Italian and Portuguese Governments, and, in view of their past attitude in this question, special attention was drawn to the fact that the Italian Government had declared themselves as sharing the view of His Majesty’s Government with regard to the desirability of an extension of the embargo on the lines suggested.

The Japanese Government have indicated their approval of the proposal to inaugurate a discussion at Peking and His Majesty’s Government therefore earnestly trust that the United States Government may now see fit to accept the suggestion and to instruct their Minister at Peking accordingly.

[ Washington ,] September 15, 1922.
  1. See telegram no. 303, July 20, from the Ambassador in Great Britain, p. 736.↩