500.A15 a 1/54
The Japanese Embassy to the Department of State
Memorandum
The Japanese Government have given careful consideration to the Memorandum of the American Embassy at Tokyo, dated February 10, 1927, defining the attitude of the United States on the general problem of disarmament, and suggesting that the representatives of the five Powers Signatories of the Washington Naval Treaty, about to participate in the forthcoming session of the Preparatory Commission for the Disarmament Conference at Geneva, shall be empowered to negotiate and to conclude an agreement among those five Powers for the limitation of armament in the classes of naval vessels not covered by the Washington Treaty.
The Japanese Government fully share with the American Government the views expressed in that Memorandum on the desirability of an agreement calculated to complete the work of the Washington Conference. They cordially welcome the initiative taken by the American Government for the institution among the five Powers of negotiations looking to such desirable end. They will be happy to take part in those negotiations through their representatives invested with full powers to negotiate and to conclude an agreement on the subject.
In view, however, of the supreme importance of the problem to be discussed and determined, the Japanese Government find it essential that at least a part of the Japanese Delegation shall be specially sent from Tokyo. Considering the length of time required for the necessary preparations, as well as for the journey from Tokyo to Geneva, it will obviously be impossible for the Japanese representatives to assist at the negotiations, should that meeting be held simultaneously with or immediately after the forthcoming session of the Preparatory Disarmament Commission, which is scheduled to be opened on March 21 next. Accordingly, the Japanese Government desire that the meeting of the Powers Signatories of the Washington Naval Treaty, now suggested, shall take place on a date not earlier than June 1.
The Japanese Government are further gratified to learn that it is not the intention of the American Government at this time to put forward rigid proposals on the ratios of naval strength to be [Page 14] maintained by the several Powers in the classes of vessels not covered by the Washington Treaty.
In order to ensure the success of the proposed negotiations, it seems highly important that in the matter of these conditions of the limitation of armament, all parties to the negotiations should approach the subject with an open mind, being always guided by the spirit of mutual accommodation and helpfulness consistently with the defensive requirements of each nation.
The Japanese Government confidently hope that an adjustment will be reached in a manner fair and satisfactory to each of the participating Powers and conducive to the general peace and security of the world.