File No. 861.00/1271
The Ambassador in Japan ( Morris ) to the Secretary of State
[Received 2.12 p.m.]
On March 7, I read to the Minister for Foreign Affairs the con-tents of Department’s telegram March 5, 4 p.m.,1 and at his request left a copy with him. He expressed his deep appreciation of the frankness and friendly spirit of the communication. He assured me again that his Government had made no formal request and had reached no decision in reference to the situation eastern Siberia but had sought simply an exchange of views. On the evening of March 9, the long-postponed meeting of the Advisory Council of Foreign Affairs was held. The deliberating lasted several hours, but no statement of the matters discussed has been issued.
Late yesterday afternoon in accordance with instructions received from his Government, British Ambassador called upon the Minister for Foreign Affairs to suggest informally to him the advisability of Japan’s intervention in Siberia. The plans as outlined by the British Ambassador contemplated military occupation as far as the Ural Mountains. If Japanese Government deemed special mission advisable at this time, formal request would be submitted by the Government of Great Britain supported by France and Italy.
[Page 79]The Minister for Foreign Affairs expressed regret that this suggestion had not been offered earlier, when public sentiment in Japan was far more favorable than now to some form of intervention. Have repeated to Admiral Knight and Peking.