793.003/133½
Memorandum by the Assistant Secretary of State (Johnson)
The Japanese Ambassador, in the course of a conversation today, asked how the situation was with regard to our reply to the Chinese note on extraterritoriality. I told him that no decision had been reached and the matter was still under consideration.
The Japanese Ambassador stated that he understood that the Japanese Minister in China was keeping Mr. MacMurray informed of the plans of the Japanese Government. I said I understood that to be so and that it was also my understanding that the Japanese Government was apparently willing to make some concessions with regard to extraterritoriality, at least in Manchuria, in the negotiations now proceeding. The Ambassador assented to this and said that of course the crux of the situation in the Chinese negotiations lay in the question of China’s willingness to open China to foreigners, if extraterritorial rights were given up. I asked him if the Japanese Government had received any reaction from the Chinese Government on this question. He said they had not as the matter had not been broached, but he said he was quite certain that the Chinese would be very reluctant to make a concession in this matter. He recalled the difficulties attendant upon the giving up of extraterritorial rights in Japan when loud protestations had been received from Japanese people and Japanese statesmen against the opening of Japan to foreign residents and trade and the giving up of extraterritorial rights. He said he felt quite certain a similar outburst would take place in China. He said, however, his Government would naturally insist upon this. He referred to the memorandum which Secretary Kellogg had handed to him94 on the subject of extraterritorial privileges in China and stated that of course Japan understood quite well the American point of view and his belief that we would doubtless not change from that outlined in the memorandum. I told him I had no reason to believe we had changed our point of view.
[Page 594]The Ambassador said his Government understood that the British Government was very much averse to making any definite reference to the recommendations of the Extraterritorial Commission in the British reply to the Chinese note as the British believed that the Chinese were very sensitive on this subject and objected to the recommendations of the Extraterritorial Commission. He said his Government felt we had nothing to be ashamed of in that report. He pointed out that the Chinese had participated in the workings of the Commission and the Chinese Commissioners had signed the recommendations without reservation. He said, however, he had no doubt that the Chinese were sensitive about this matter and that Wang Chung Hui, who was the Chinese Commissioner, would be very glad to forget the recommendations. He said that the Japanese Government believed there should be some gradual relinquishment of extraterritorial rights.