File No. 803.00/1420.
The American Ambassador to Japan to the Secretary of State.
Tokyo, August 15, 1912.
In a memorandum received today the Japanese Government, replying to the memorandum contained in your July 20, state that they do not consider the existing Provisional Government of China organized in sufficient conformity with the requirements of international law to merit recognition. They think it would be unwise and harmful from [Page 86] every point of view to regard the existing régime otherwise than as provisional. But they favor the recognition of a stable and efficient government in China at the earliest possible moment.