I also enclose despatch from Tokio. Chinda called with a note26 similar to Okuma’s
reply. I told him we were not contemplating sending any advice to China & that our information
was to the effect that terms would be accepted by China. I expressed
gratification that group five had been withdrawn.
[Enclosure 1—Telegram]
The Ambassador in Great Britain (Page) to the Secretary of State
27
London,
May 7, 1915—7 p. m.
[Received May 8—12:30 a. m.]
2062. Your telegram No. 1519, May 6th. Sir Edward Grey informs me
that he gave the following memorandum to the Japanese Ambassador
here yesterday. . . .
[Page 425]
“His Majesty’s Government are very much concerned at the prospect
of a war between China and Japan. They feel this may imperil the
independence and integrity of China which is one of the main
objects of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance.28 In view of Article One of the
Alliance, we trust that the Japanese Government will not finally
shut the door upon the possibility of agreements with China
without consulting with us and giving us an opportunity of
promoting a friendly settlement.”
Sir Edward Grey further informs me that the Japanese Government have
withdrawn the demands classified under Group Five and left them for
subsequent discussion and settlement, thus leaving a way open for
the Chinese acceptance of the demands as they now stand.
Sir Edward Grey expressed the hope today to the Chinese Minister that
his Government would find itself able to accept them.
American Ambassador
[Enclosure 2—Telegram]
The Chargé in Japan (Wheeler) to the Secretary of State
29
Tokyo,
May 8, 1915—2 p. m.
[Received 1:30 p. m.]
Your telegram May 6th, 7 p. m. and May 6th, 6 p. m. were not
delivered to the Embassy till 2 and 6 this morning respectively.
Telegraph authorities state delay caused by break of cable which
necessitated their being sent by telegraph via Manila, Shanghai and
Nagasaki.
I presented your personal telegram to Count Okuma at noon today
expressing my profound regret at the unavoidable delay in its
transmission. After it had been translated to him he asked me to
express to you his sincere thanks and to say that he received it in
the same friendly spirit in which it had been sent; that he felt
sure that on reading the statement which Japan had given out you
would realize that she had presented the ultimatum only after
exhausting all methods of diplomacy and in the conviction that
China’s negotiations were being carried on in a spirit of
insincerity; that while the ultimatum had now been issued Japan had
with it offered even further concessions which would make it
possible for China to yield and that he had strong hope of a
peaceful outcome.
An hour ago the British Ambassador read me a telegram he had received
this morning from Sir Edward Grey reporting the latter’s conference
on Friday with the Japanese Ambassador in London when
[Page 426]
Sir Edward had urged
strongly that war at the present time would be most serious for the
whole Far East and might mean even the break-up of China and had
counselled patience and conciliation. He read me also a telegram he
had just received from the British Minister at Peking stating “I
have strongly urged the Chinese Government to accept terms of
ultimatum and I am convinced that they will do so”. The British
Ambassador himself appears confident of a peaceful solution.
