893.01/73
The Secretary of State to President Wilson
My Dear Mr. President: I enclose to you two papers which were handed to me today by the Japanese Ambassador and the British [Page 427] Ambassador.31 They are in fact, if not in language, protests to the Chinese Government against the reestablishment of a monarchy.32
To neither of the Ambassadors did I express any opinion as to what the attitude of this Government would be. I confess that I am at a loss to understand the purpose of Japan in this action which has been taken. Perhaps I am very suspicious and that it has the object of preserving the peace in the far east. My own view is that it is not an action on their part to which we should make any objection. In fact I believe if it accomplishes its purpose it will be beneficial. Our reports while varied tend to show that the proclamation of Yuan Shih Kai as Emperor would cause insurrections in various parts of China. He is, to all intents, Emperor at the present time and I can see no reason other than ambition for the continuance of his family in power for the assumption of the title.
I do not think it is necessary for us to take any action in the matter other than to acknowledge the receipt of these papers. As it is a matter, however, of considerable moment I would be obliged if you would give me your views on the subject.
Faithfully yours,
- Foreign Relations, 1915, pp. 69 and 70.↩
- For correspondence previously printed on this subject, see ibid., pp. 44 ff.↩