Office of the Historian

793.94/488½

President Wilson to the Secretary of State

Washington, 5 December, 1915 .

My Dear Mr. Secretary: Commenting on the enclosed,35 do you not think it would be well for you to have a very serious conversation with the Japanese Ambassador about the Chinese situation? It seems to me clear that the interests and the treaty rights of the United States would be very directly and unfavourably affected by the foreshadowed change of political suzerainty in China, and that this is the time to let Japan understand, in all friendly frankness, how we should look upon efforts on her part to gain further control of China. Is not this your opinion?

Faithfully Yours,

W. W.
  1. Telegram from the Minister in China, supra.↩