793.94/8874
Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs (Hornbeck)
The Chinese Ambassador26a called on the Secretary this afternoon on the Ambassador’s own initiative. The Secretary suggested that Mr. Hornbeck be present, and, the Ambassador having assented, Mr. Hornbeck was called in.
The Ambassador handed to the Secretary and Mr. Hornbeck copies of a memorandum, a copy of which is here attached.27 While the Secretary was reading this memorandum, Mr. Hornbeck inquired of the Ambassador whether the figure “200,000” with regard to Japanese troops was not perhaps a typographical error. The Ambassador said that he felt that it probably was such, but that it had so come to him. He pointed out to the Secretary that probably in place of “200,000” the memorandum should read “20,000.”
The Secretary said that we regarded this whole situation as most unfortunate and that we were very desirous that peace be maintained.
There followed a conversation in the course of which there came up mention of the Nine Power Treaty (which treaty is mentioned, along with the Pact of Paris and the Covenant of the League, in the memorandum). The Ambassador said that he hoped that the powers would take some action, it might possibly be the powers party to the Nine Power Treaty. Mr. Hornbeck asked whether the Ambassador would feel inclined to give for the Secretary’s benefit any statement in exposition of his, the Ambassador’s, view with regard to a specific question: Would the making of any direct representations by the powers, either individually or in a group, contribute toward maintenance of [Page 190] the peace or would it contribute toward just the opposite. The Ambassador made the affirmation that in his opinion it would tend to deter the Japanese from going to lengths which, if persisted in, would have to be resisted forcefully by China. Mr. Hornbeck asked whether such had been the effect of the action taken by the League and the United States in 1931. The Ambassador again said that representations by the powers would tend to restrain the Japanese.
The Secretary said that we greatly appreciated the Ambassador’s having come in and having given us information and his views, that we wanted him to come in at any time, and that we were very solicitous that peace be maintained.