793.94/294½

President Wilson to the Secretary of State

My Dear Mr. Secretary: I hope that you will send this telegram.20

I am very uneasy about what is going on, as reported by Mr. Reinsch . . . I wish that you might find an opportunity to express to the Japanese ambassador the grave concern we feel at hearing that his government is insisting upon the acquiescence of the Chinese government in the “Requests,” because they are so clearly incompatible with the administrative independence and autonomy of the Chinese Empire and with the maintenance of the policy of an open door to the world.

In short, I feel that we should be as active as the circumstances permit in showing ourselves to be champions of the sovereign rights of China, now as always, though with no thought of seeking any special advantage or privilege for ourselves. In this way only can we make good this message to Reinsch.

Has Reinsch been told definitely that it is not true that we have acquiesced in any of Japan’s demands? Count Okuma has been [Page 417] quoted in the newspaper despatches as saying that we had acquiesced.

Faithfully Yours,

W. W.
  1. Infra.