793.94/8266
Memorandum by the Assistant Chief of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs (Hamilton)
The French Ambassador, Mr. André de Laboulaye, called by appointment. He said that this morning he had received a cable from his Government stating that the French Government had been informed in London that the British Government had made an informal approach in Tokyo to the Japanese Government urging that the Japanese Government adopt a moderate and conciliatory attitude in its present relations with China. The Ambassador said that his cable asked him to call at the Department and inquire, in the light of the circumstance that the American Government was the “custodian” of the Washington Conference treaties, as to the attitude of the Department of State in the matter and whether the American Government planned to make an approach to the Japanese Government. The Ambassador said further that his cable indicated that the receipt of information in regard to the attitude of the American Government would be helpful to the French Government in itself reaching a decision in the matter.
Mr. Hamilton said that we were of course following developments in the situation with especial care and concern and that we were endeavoring to assemble all possible information which would be helpful to us in adequately understanding the situation. Mr. Hamilton said that the Ambassador would realize that due to the position of leadership which the American Government took in the Sino-Japanese controversy in 1931 and the immediately ensuing years, in relation to a situation where there were involved rights, interests and obligations common to this and many other Governments, the American Government now, in order that any approach made by it to the Japanese Government might not have an adverse rather than a good effect, had to move perhaps more circumspectly than other governments: at least the American Government had to weigh very carefully the question whether any diplomatic action which it might take would be likely to do more harm than good.
[Page 332]The Ambassador stated that if and when the Department should reach a decision whether to make an approach to the Japanese Government, he would appreciate being informed of the nature of the decision. Mr. Hamilton said that he would be glad to do this.