793.94/10744
Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs (Hornbeck) of a Conversation Between the Secretary of State and the Japanese Ambassador (Saito)
The Ambassador called at 3:45 this afternoon at his request.
The Ambassador stated that he had come entirely on his own initiative and without instruction from his Government. He had in his hand a one-page memorandum on which there were Japanese characters and at which he frequently glanced during the course of the conversation. He said that he had come to ask about the action which had been taken yesterday54 and to inquire what the American Government “wished.” He said that this was the first time so far as he was aware in which the American Government had come out and expressed itself definitely with regard to a general situation in the Far East. He said that the Japanese do not feel that they have violated any treaties. —The Secretary then gave a review of developments since July 7. He said that at the outset and repeatedly, as the Ambassador would remember, the Ambassador had informed us that this [Page 398] was a comparatively small matter and that Japan had no extensive intentions; and we had urged and had kept on urging that the peace be kept and we had offered to be of any possible assistance toward disposing of the controversy by peaceful means. But the situation had developed on a large scale, hundreds of thousands of Japanese troops were operating in China, the coast was blockaded, the air was full of planes, bombings were taking place at many points, women and children were being killed, etc. —The Ambassador replied with a statement that the Japanese had been following a conciliatory policy for several years but the Chinese had been recalcitrant and had broken several agreements and had come to the conclusion that the Japanese could be defied and it had become necessary for the Japanese to use force. He said that at Shanghai the Chinese had attacked Japanese nationals, Japan had sent warships, and the Chinese had attacked the ships. From this the thing had spread. He thought that the powers did not understand the situation and Japan’s position. He said that they appreciated the quiet and understanding way in which the American Government had hitherto proceeded with regard to the matter. He wondered whether, in the light of yesterday’s action, we had in mind any further course.
The Secretary replied that we had not in mind at present any particular step: we have followed a course and a policy which we will continue to follow.
The Ambassador asked whether there would be a conference of the Nine Power Treaty powers. —The Secretary replied that he had been asked that question elsewhere and he had answered by referring to the resolution of the League.
The Ambassador spoke to the effect that in condemning Japan the powers did not understand and would only be making things more difficult. He said that the Japanese Government wanted to bring the conflict to an end and that, the Japanese people, being proud, when they found themselves criticized, would be all the more insistent that the course which the Government was following be persisted in. —The Secretary said that he did not see how the Japanese could expect the powers to keep silent. He was very sorry that the situation has developed as it has. He repeated, in brief, the review which he had made earlier in the conversation of developments, especially Japan’s action, in the Far East; he said that the powers were naturally aroused over all this and naturally could not keep silent about it; that more than fifty powers had expressed themselves at the League; that we, as a signatory of the Nine Power Treaty and the Kellogg Pact, could not admit that the situation was none of our business and could not refrain from expressing the view that provisions of these agreements had been disregarded.
The Ambassador spoke to the effect that relations between the [Page 399] United States and Japan had been friendly, had been in recent years increasingly so, and should not be permitted to become otherwise. He intimated that the Japanese were exasperated with certain other powers and that he hoped that they would not become so with the United States. —The Secretary said again that he greatly regretted the whole situation. He said that the powers would much rather give any country a clean bill of health than condemn or criticize it. He said that he himself would gladly walk from Washington to San Francisco if by doing so he could cause Japan and China to sit down and, with such assistance as anybody else might render, come to a peaceful solution.
The Secretary inquired whether there was anything that Mr. Hornbeck might wish to say. —Mr. Hornbeck said that there was one question in his mind, a rather incisive question, a question which he would put if he might without impropriety: the Ambassador had stated that the Japanese Government was anxious to bring the conflict to an end and that intrusion by the powers would only make the situation more difficult; he would like to ask what, if the powers in no way intruded, would bring the conflict to an end. —The Ambassador asked whether Mr. Hornbeck meant “what terms.” —Mr. Hornbeck said that he meant rather what development or what state of affairs or situation would bring the hostilities to an end. —The Ambassador replied that a recognition by China of her inability to resist Japan and a manifestation on China’s part of willingness to be friendly and to cooperate with Japan would bring the hostilities to an end. —Mr. Hornbeck inquired whether this meant that the problem is a “military problem.” —The Ambassador replied that that was what it meant.
With the usual amenities, the conversation ended.
As Mr. Hornbeck proceeded with the Ambassador to the door, the Ambassador added that in saying that the problem is a military problem he meant “for the present—a military problem.”
- See press release, supra.↩