File No. 861.00/2396
The Ambassador in Japan (Morris) to the Secretary of State
[Received 12.49 p.m.]
I had an informal conversation with the Minister for Foreign Affairs this afternoon. I communicated to him the suggestion contained in your July 29, 3 p.m., that Chinese troops should control [Page 322] the railway in Manchuria. He expressed the opinion that the whole situation was a difficult one but that he was inclined to accede to the suggestion of our Government, not because he believed that they would prove effective in helping the Czechs, but simply because he and his colleagues desired to act in full accord with our views. I am inclined to believe that the Japanese Government will therefore instruct Ishii to agree (1) to the use of only Chinese troops in Manchuria; (2) to the elimination of the phrase, “special interest of Japan,” as contained in the declaration submitted; and (3) to limiting the expedition to Vladivostok. They will, however, request the retention of the clause in the declaration, “if called for by the exigencies of the situation.” They will agree not to take advantage of this clause without the concurrence of our Government but desire to retain it to “satisfy public opinion “here. …
The Government, fearing popular resentment, is taking unusual precautions to conceal the nature of the negotiations from the public. Special censors have been placed in the office of Tokyo newspapers to prevent the publication of any comment.