893.01/41: Telegram

The Minister in China (Reinsch) to the Secretary of State

Ministers of the Chinese Government today expressed to me great concern over the report, as yet unconfirmed, that the Japanese Government is making démarches at Washington, London, St. Petersburg, and Paris with a view to making joint representations to the Chinese Government, counselling suspension of monarchist movement as being inopportune and likely to lead to disturbances. The report further indicates an attempt on the part of the Japanese Government to have Entente Powers commit into its hands the conduct of affairs connected with contemplated change of Government under a promise by Japan to guard foreign interests generally in the Far East.

It is apprehended that the Japanese Government may be aiming to manipulate the present situation so as to give itself the position, vis-à-vis the Powers, of a maintainer of the peace of the Far East, and, vis-à-vis the Chinese, that of protector without whose assent and assistance no important action may be taken. The Ministers of the Entente Powers here have seen this danger for some time, but are, in [Page 428] the nature of things, powerless of themselves to prevent such a development.

The Chinese Government maintain that the question of the form of state is a purely domestic one, which could be turned into a matter of international action only for unjustifiable reason of foreign political ambitions, since they feel assured that no disturbances will occur unless through foreign instigation and that foreign interests are therefore in no sense endangered or involved at all. Japan’s assertion of vital interest in domestic policies of China would in itself amount to a claim of virtual suzerainty.

I venture to suggest that even if the Department should consider it desirable to make some intimation to the Chinese Government in this connection, it would be highly important that any such action should be taken independently so as to avoid associating our Government with a program which has in view an ulterior object decidedly unfavorable to American interests.

Reinsch