861.77/2635: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Warren) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 9—1 p.m.]
135. As anticipated in my 124, July 26, 1 p.m.,79 Foreign Office has furnished me in written form under date of August 8th views of Japanese Government concerning draft of memorandum sent in your 73, July 17, 3 p.m. Translation follows:
“Memorandum. The Japanese Government have examined the American Ambassador’s memorandum of July 21 and wish to state that they are happy to share the view expressed in the opening part of the memorandum, that the impending withdrawal of Japanese troops will definitely terminate the Inter-Allied Railway Agreement of January, 1919, and that the United States appreciating highly the international cooperation which was brought about by that agreement feels that it should not be allowed to lapse without a common understanding being reached as to future action.
The purpose of the 1919 agreement was as stated in the above-mentioned memorandum to operate temporarily the Chinese Eastern and the Trans-Siberian Railways in the interest of the Russian people. It is also clear from the resolution quoted in the said memorandum that the Powers other than China at the recent Washington Conference are united in the view that whatever power China may exercise in connection with the Chinese Eastern Railway it is in the nature of a trust and consequently China is responsible for performance or nonperformance of the obligations resulting from such trusteeship. With such understanding the Japanese Government are prepared to join the proposals made by the Government of the United States that the Powers concerned proceed in the near future to the winding up of the Inter-Allied Committee and the Technical Board created by the 1919 agreement, and that the Powers other than China adopt a common course of action in that connection, to wit: [Page 910]
- 1.
- that these Powers should confirm the resolutions above referred to relating to China’s responsibility;
- 2.
- that they should so far as there may be occasion reserve all rights with respect to advances in money or material made in aid of the railway;
- 3.
- that they reaffirm their concern in the equipment, present plans of the railway, its operation and its maintenance as a free avenue of commerce open to citizens of all countries without favor or discrimination;
- 4.
- that they inform the Chinese Government that they purpose to continue to observe carefully the administration and operation of the railway and the manner in which China discharges responsibilities which she has assumed;
- 5.
- that they apprise the Chinese Government at the same time of their entire good will and readiness to assist or cooperate at any time in any practicable way with a view to conserving the railway property and assuring efficient operation in the interest of all concerned.
Further it may be added that the Japanese Government recognizing the advisability of keeping a continued watch over the management of the Chinese Eastern Railway, for which both the Japanese and American Governments have in the past supplied no small amount of funds in order that it be kept as a free avenue of the world’s commerce, howbeit whenever there arises occasion for lending financial or other assistance or cooperation to the Chinese Eastern Railway the powers concerned will be guided in their action by the spirit of mutual consultation and accord, which for the last three years has so happily marked the cooperation of the Japanese and American Governments in this matter.”
- Not printed.↩