861.77 Chinese Eastern/396
Memorandum by the Secretary of State
I have asked the Japanese Ambassador what the situation was in China and he said that the situation was serious but their impression was that Chiang Kai-shek would have a hard time with the present revolt. We discussed the situation in Manchuria and I told him of our interest in the situation, saying the bad effect which a real state of war between China and Russia would have on the Kellogg Pact. He said that had not yet come; there was no fighting except “clashes”, yet. He said that Russia was likely to take advantage of the difficulties of the Chinese Government. I then said that if Russia should take advantage of that situation to seize Harbin and the China and [Chinese?] Eastern Railway that I believe America would consider that an act of war. He agreed that that would be correct, but said that in his opinion there was no danger at present of Russia doing that.