893.113/1171
Memorandum by the Secretary of State
The German Ambassador called to tell me that in reference to our previous conversation as to the embargo on China, his government had decided that it would be too complicated to continue the Act and that therefore they had decided to lift the embargo on the first of May. I explained to him that I had somewhat overstated our position in support of the embargo when I had last seen him; that as a matter of fact my predecessor had left the matter to our minister, Mr. MacMurray, for advice as to whether it should be lifted. Mr. Johnson was called in to confirm the situation and was present at the interview.
Mr. Johnson stated that the Department had received from the American Minister a telegram indicating that the British Government had notified its Minister at Peking that unless unanimity could be reached by the diplomatic body at Peking on this subject prior to April 26, the British Government for its part, and alone, would after that date consider itself free to cancel the embargo, in so far as Great Britain was concerned. The German Ambassador stated that he had also heard this and also that he had heard that the Japanese were disposed to agree to the cancellation of the embargo.