893.01 Manchuria/1033
Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs (Hornbeck)
After discussion of the question of Chinese Legations and Embassies (see separate memorandum of today’s date69), the Italian Ambassador inquired whether he might ask an “indiscreet question”: he said that it was well known that his Government has in no way deviated from its earlier position with regard to Manchuria, that of “non-recognition”; he would like to know what the American Government thinks about this question in connection with recent developments in the Far East.
I replied that we had noted that a question was raised in Rome recently and that the Italian Foreign Office had stated that there was no change in its position; and that we had also noted that the question had been raised in the British House of Commons and the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Sir John Simon, had replied there was no change in the British Government’s position. I continued to the effect that the Ambassador had doubtless noticed the statements made in the press here during the past few days, especially the statements that there has been no change in this Government’s position—which statement is a correct one. The Ambassador said that he understood perfectly that there was no change in our position. He wondered, however, whether the coronation of the new emperor in any way alters the general situation. There followed some discussion in the course of which I took occasion to remark that the question of recognition can be considered from two different angles of approach: on the one hand there are the non-recognition declarations and resolutions; on the other hand there are, irrespective of these, those considerations which are usually taken into account when a new political entity appears in quest of recognition. I raised the question whether [Page 61] “Manchoutikuo” can really be regarded as de facto a “sovereign and independent state”.
There ensued some discussion of the general problem of coordination of policy and cooperation in courses of action in reference to common interests, rights, obligations and objectives.