793.94/258a
The Secretary of State to President Wilson
My Dear Mr. President: I am sending you—(1) flimsy of a telegram received from Guthrie;7 (2) Mr. Williams’ comment on the telegram with his suggestion as to what may be done;8 (3) a confidential memorandum of an oral statement made to me this afternoon by Ambassador Chinda.8
The telegram from Tokio, as you will notice, suggests a way out so far as Fukien is concerned. This matter is treated at some length in the memorandum left by Chinda. The Tokio telegram throws some light upon the Japanese situation. It is evident that the suggestion made by Secretary Hay9 as to a coaling station has been in the back of the Japanese head ever since, and they have construed everything we have said in connection with this coaling station suggestion. They doubtless had that in mind last year when they expressed [Page 410] so much concern about the contract which Chinda [China?] was reported to have made with the Steel Company for an improvement of a harbor in Fukien.
I believe it would be possible to smooth out a good deal of our difficulty by the exchange of notes which would relieve the anxiety of the Japanese people on that point.
This Government has no desire to secure a coaling station on the border of Fukien, especially not with a knowledge of Japan’s feeling on the subject—a feeling not so unnatural when you remember that Fukien is opposite Formosa.
You will notice on page eight of the memorandum that the Japanese Government seems willing to reconsider the proposal so far as it affects Fukien if it is understood that we will not be a party to any development on the coast which could be construed as a menace to Japan. It is possible that it could be so worded as not to seem to affect the United States, but, rather, be an agreement with China, our nation consenting to the agreement, by which all investment of foreign capital in harbor improvement, or the establishment of coaling stations or naval bases, should be prevented. How does it impress you?
I am surprised to learn from the memorandum that Great Britain, France and Germany have already secured agreements identical with those asked by Japan, in Fukien, if not even more restrictive, and at least one of them has been secured since the establishment of the “open door” policy.
You will notice that as to the advisors it is only suggestive and Japan disclaims any attempt to coerce China to accept the proposal. There is no objection to the offering of such a suggestion by Japan, and it would naturally produce irritation if China, in selecting advisors, ignored Japan.
In the matter of arms, the Ambassador explains that they did not insist upon any particular amount or proportion, but as all arms made in Japan are made by the Government they wanted to know in advance something about how much they would need so that they could make preparation for furnishing them. I believe that this can be obviated by language to the effect that Japan shall not be discriminated against in the purchase of arms and that she should receive notice a certain time in advance of the purchase.
In talking with Chinda I believe I discovered the reason for this particular request—namely, that China has been buying her arms of Germany and Austria and I think there was some discussion of plans for the establishment of armor plants by Germans and Austrians. It is not unnatural that they should object to having an enemy providing arms for China.
[Page 411]You will notice in Section 3, on page 4, the police proposal had reference only to Manchuria especially, and to Mongolia also in certain contingencies.
While I hope to have a moment’s time with you tomorrow to consider this matter I thought I would better send these papers over to you tonight so that you will have time to think over them.
With assurances [etc]
- Ibid., p. 113.↩
- Not enclosed with file copy of this letter.↩
- Not enclosed with file copy of this letter.↩
- See Foreign Relations, 1915, p. 113, footnote 42.↩