711.933/123
Memorandum by the Assistant Secretary of State (Johnson)
During a conversation today the Japanese Ambassador asked me what I knew about a proposal for a warning to be served by the several interested Powers upon China not to abrogate unilaterally her treaties.
I told the Ambassador what I knew about it, that I had supposed from what I saw that the matter originated with the Japanese. The Ambassador stated that it had not originated with the Japanese; that it had originated with MacMurray sometime ago but that recently Yoshizawa had revived the suggestion making certain recommendations as to form and time. He asked me whether we had decided about the matter, or not.
I told the Ambassador the Secretary had not made any decision; that all we had told MacMurray was that we were not prepared to decide it now; that the matter might be brought up later and discussed, if it was thought proper.