File No. 793.94/258.
Ambassador Guthrie to the Secretary of State.
Tokyo, March 21, 1915—noon.
Yesterday afternoon I had a very full and frank interview with Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs. He read to me a telegram which he stated he had sent to Chinda in regard to Mr. Bryan’s note, only an abstract of which he said he had as yet received. He dwelt especially on Fukien saying that Japan was very sensitive about it because of its proximity to Formosa, and that she had been made uneasy some years ago by Secretary Hay’s suggestion that the United States desired to improve a harbor there for a naval coaling station,42 and that this uneasiness had been recently revived [Page 114] by published reports that the Bethlehem Steel Company was negotiating with China a contract for that harbor’s improvement. He said that the purpose of Japan’s request on this point was to guarantee her against any action by any power which would give the latter a foothold in that province, as any attempt by any power to gain a foothold there would be regarded as unfriendly and inimical to Japan. He said that his only desire was to prevent this, not to secure for Japan any exclusive commercial advantages, his information being that the district is poor, that there are no indications of valuable mineral resources and that the hilly character and poverty of the country would make railroad building expensive and unprofitable. He expressed the belief that if Japan, at the suggestion of the United States, withdrew the request concerning Fukien and the fact became known in Japan it would create a suspicion and resentment and impair the growing cordiality between the two peoples. In conclusion he said that before the United States approve the withdrawal of this request he would suggest that the United States and Japan should agree upon a frank and friendly statement concerning this province by which all possibility of future uneasiness might be eliminated. He expressed his belief that if some such mutual understanding could be reached the friendship between our two countries would be put upon a more solid basis than it had [Page 115] ever known. He again pointed out the distinction between Japan’s “demands” and “requests” saying that while it was Japan’s wish to gain the latter and while she would continue to press them she did not expect to compel compliance by force. He expressed regret at the published report that information as to our objections had been given out at Washington by authority saying that public belief on this point would seriously embarrass the administration here and that for this reason although he had instructed the censors to permit publication of telegrams received by papers here he had authorized the statement that the United States had not fully understood all the propositions submitted to China, had asked for further explanations which had been given and which he expected would be satisfactory, and that no protest against any of Japan’s “demands” had been made. Newspapers of last night and this morning contained inspired paragraphs stating that some time ago Washington asked Japan for explanation on a certain ambiguous point but that this was not to be construed as a warning much less a protest and that there is not the slightest truth in the report that the United States has demanded of Japan that she modify her demands. All vernacular newspapers this morning discuss the question on the basis of this inspired statement.
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The text refers to the following:
The Secretary of State to Minister Buck.
[Telegram.]
Department of State,
Washington, December 7, 1900.The Navy greatly desires a coaling station at Samsah Inlet north of Fuchow. Ascertain informally and discreetly whether Japanese Government would see any objection to our negotiating for this with China.
Hay.
Minister Buck to the Secretary of State.
[Telegram.]
Legation of the United States,
Tokyo, December 10, 1900.The Japanese Government declines to accede to the proposal for coaling station for the United States Navy at Samsah Inlet. Today Minister of Japan at Washington has been instructed by telegraph upon the subject fully. He will communicate particular reasons.
Buck.
Minister Buck to the Secretary of State.
No. 524.]
Legation of the United States,
Tokyo, December 11, 1900.Sir: I have the honor to confirm your telegraphic instruction of the 7th instant, received on the 9th, and my reply by telegraph yesterday, the 10th, concerning the matter of obtaining for our Navy a coaling station at Samsah Inlet, north of Foochow.
In an interview with the Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs yesterday he said that he had received on the 7th instant a telegram from the Japanese Minister in Washington giving an account of a conversation with you upon this subject; that he had consulted the Emperor and the Acting Minister President of State, and had been to Oiso to confer with Marquis Ito (still absent sick), and on that day (yesterday) had already telegraphed at length to his Minister in Washington the conclusion reached. He then kindly read me a copy of the telegram sent, which gave particularly and in full the reasons why the Japanese Government were unwilling to accede to the proposal, and said that because of the very friendly relations of the two countries it was with regret that circumstances were such as, in the opinion of his Government, made it necessary to decline to give a favorable response which otherwise would be given with pleasure. He having said that his Minister in Washington would communicate to the State Department fully the views of the Japanese Government, I deem it unnecessary to enter into particulars in this despatch.
I have [etc.]
A. E. Buck.
The Japanese Foreign Office to the Japanese Minister.*
Regarding the proposed acquisition by the United States of a coaling station in Samsah Bay, the Imperial Government would not, were it possible to be guided only by sentiments of good will, experience any difficulty in meeting the wishes of the United States; but there being many reasons of a commanding nature which make undesirable the realization of the project of the United States Government, the Imperial Government cannot but take these reasons into serious consideration, and they confidently believe that the United States Government will not, upon a careful review of the entire situation, fail to perceive that it would be impossible for the Imperial Government to view with indifference the consummation of the proposed step.
In the first place, in view of the fact that the Chinese Government have given to the Imperial Government a self-denying engagement on the non-alienation of any portion of Fuhkien Province, such an acquisition as is proposed by the United States Government would practically be an abrogation of that engagement, to which, for geographical and other reasons, the Imperial Government attach the highest importance; for should the door be once opened to enable one Power to secure territorial advantages in that Province, it would be impossible to prevent others from acquiring similar concessions.
* Copy handed to the Secretary of State by the Japanese Minister, December 11, 1900.
Secondly, having in view Article II of the Anglo-German Agreement@@†, to which both the United States and Japan have declared their adhesion, the Imperial Government fear that the acquirement by the United States Government of such territorial advantage as is desired would at once bring into force Article III of the same agreement, which is a contingency that cannot be viewed without the gravest apprehensions.
† For. Rel. 1900, pp. 354, 355.
Thirdly, not less serious would be the effect of the proposed step upon the situation at Peking, which is already at the present moment sufficiently delicate.
The Imperial Government harbor no territorial designs upon China; their policy, on the contrary, is directed to the maintenance of her territorial integrity; and they have noted with entire satisfaction the declaration made on several occasions by the Secretary of State that the United States were also anxious to preserve the territorial entity of that Empire. That desired end may be, in the opinion of the Imperial Government, best attained by those Powers which entertain similar views refraining from accepting any advantages which might give other Powers a pretext for territorial demands.
For these reasons, which are suggested with the frankness and sincerity fully justified by the good relations subsisting between the two Governments, the Imperial Government confidently hope that the United States Government will definitely abandon their above-mentioned project.
You are hereby instructed to present to the Secretary of State an answer in the above sense.
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