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Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs (Hornbeck) of a Conversation With the Counselor of the French Embassy (Henry)
Mr. Henry called and read me a telegram from his Government quoting from a telegram which they had from their Minister in China. In this it was stated that various Chinese, speaking on behalf of various Chinese governmental agencies, had been approaching the British and the American Ministers on the subject of some type of possible intermediation by the powers toward averting Chinese-Japanese hostilities which are a threat to various interests in the area south of the Wall and leading to Tientsin and Peiping. The French Government wished to know the views of the American Government. (Note: A part of what Mr. Henry read bore a striking resemblance to a statement which appeared in yesterday evening’s Washington Star as an AP despatch under date line Tokyo, May 1. See clipping attached21).
I discussed with Mr. Henry the situation as we see it in the light of information, both official and press, of the past few days. I then gave our view, outlining it in substance along the lines of our recent instruction to Minister Johnson.22 I said that we felt that the foreign governments and their representatives must exercise great caution: not only have approaches to the representatives of the powers at Peiping been made from a number of Chinese sources but such approaches have been made—and were even earlier made—from Japanese sources. Both the Chinese and the Japanese have tried [Page 302] and will try to get the foreign powers involved in some manner. Any efforts exerted by the powers toward inducing the Chinese to come to an agreement at this stage with the Japanese would be likely, if successful, to produce a situation which would be highly advantageous and pleasing to the Japanese but disadvantageous and displeasing in the long run to the Chinese (with the exception of the comparatively few Chinese immediately concerned with present military problems in the Peiping-Tientsin area). This Government wishes to be helpful in anything which it may be practicable to do. We perceive just now no possible course of action toward which we would be inclined to take, an initiative. But if the French or the British Governments or their representatives in China have anything definite to propose, we would be prepared to participate in discussions in a frame of mind predisposed toward cooperation. I said that to us the situation seems just now less acute than a few days ago but still cloudy and still one in which, as ever, it is necessary to be very careful. Mr. Henry said that he agreed with all of this and that he would inform his Government.