Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President Transmitted to Congress December 3, 1912

File No. 893.00/785.

The Secretary of State to the Japanese Chargé d’Affaires.

[Aide Memoire.]

The reports received by the American Government from its representatives in China lead it to share the apprehension as to the seriousness of the present situation there expressed in the memorandum of the Imperial Japanese Government presented to the Secretary of State on the 18th instant. These reports are further confirmed by the statements of responsible Chinese officials to the effect that the situation is critical, with the result that both Chinese and foreigners suffer.

It was these considerations that led the American Government cordially to approve the recent suggestion¹ emanating from the foreign representatives at Peking that some moral pressure should be exerted on both sides to bring them, together in order that a peace agreement might result from the conference at Shanghai which convened on the 18th instant, and that to that end each present, with the authorization of their respective Governments, an informal and unofficial note to the commissioners representing both the parties in question.

The language of the note as drafted by the representatives at Peking commended itself to the Government of the United States in that while it did not minimize the serious effects of the present disturbances not only upon China itself but also upon the material interest and security of foreigners and emphasized the necessity of arriving as soon as possible at an understanding capable of putting an end to the present conflict, it still adhered to the attitude of strict neutrality adopted up to the present time by the common consent of the powers.

The Government of the United States believes that this joint action by the powers may well be considered as a first step toward the solution of the important questions presented by the memorandum of the Imperial Japanese Government, and would therefore be inclined to await the outcome of the present effort, reserving for future consideration by the concert of powers having important interests in China what further measures may be conducive to stable and responsible government in China.

Department of State.
Washington , December 21, 1911.

1. See above, telegram Dec 15.