File No. 763.72/1316
The Ambassador in Japan (Guthrie) to the Secretary of State
Tokyo, November 23, 1914
[Received December 17.]
Sir: As addenda to my despatch No. 161 of even date, reporting newspaper comment here on the subject of the future disposition of Kiaochow, I have the honor to enclose in duplicate a clipping from the Japan Advertiser of the 19th instant, which is a translation of an interview given to a representative of the Jiji Shimpo by Baron Kato, Minister for Foreign Affairs.
I have [etc.]
[Enclosure]
Beetroot from the “Japan Advertiser,” November 19, 1914
The Jiji reports a conversation with Baron Kato, foreign minister, who has gone to Osaka by train. Baron Kato said in part—
That we were obliged to fight against Germany was because we wanted to maintain peace in the Orient. But where is the necessity for sending our Japanese troops to Europe when we are not directly interested from the point of view of our nation’s safety and the peace of the Orient? Beside, in sending several hundred thousand troops, we should require an enormous amount of money for expenses. From the financial consideration alone it is a matter which should not be discussed carelessly. Even if the Allies win, we would perhaps find it difficult to get a war indemnity from Germany. So we must prepare for that emergency when we talk about sending troops to Europe. As for allowing the Allies to bear the expenses, it would be a great loss of prestige on our part to do so. For these reasons I am, Sir, one who is opposed to sending troops to Europe.
Silent Baron Kato must have been very free of speech, for he continued:
About the disposition of Tsingtao, whether we establish a military rule or a civil rule, we must at an early date open that port to free commerce. But we must keep that place until the war in Europe is over. In the peace conference which will be held after the war, China may not be invited to participate, because she is not a belligerent nation. I cannot speak about the diplomatic questions involving Manchuria and Mongolia. I am criticized as being cold and lacking in civility. But the other day when a magazine unknown to us printed an article purporting to give the diplomatic views of Count Okuma, the Chinese [Page 204] Government addressed a note to us asking as [to] the truth or falsehood of the article. So I must be very careful.
We have not gone so far as to form an alliance with Russia on account of the present war.