File No. 861.00/2882
The Chinese Minister (Koo) to the Secretary of State
Washington, September 13,
1918
My Dear Mr. Secretary: I beg to enclose
herewith the memorandum which I spoke to you yesterday about for
your personal information.
Very sincerely yours,
[Enclosure]
Memorandum on the dispatch of Japanese
Troops to Manchouli
With reference to the subject of dispatching Japanese troops to
Manchouli and other points along the Chinese Eastern Railway,
the Japanese Minister at Peking, in an interview with Premier
Tuan on the 8th of August last, inquired whether China would
consent to the carrying out of measures for joint defense
against the enemy according to the Sino-Japanese military
agreement. The Premier replied that since an agreement for the
purpose had been concluded between the two countries China
would, of course, give her consent in accordance with the
agreement, should the exigency arise.
On the 14th, Minister Hayashi informed
orally one of the Counselors of the Foreign Office that the
Japanese troops at Port Arthur had orders to move on the 13th.
On the evening of the same day the Foreign Office sent an
official to the Japanese Legation and informed the Minister that
the haste with which Japan had dispatched troops did not give
China sufficient time to notify the people along the route of
this step. The Minister promised to cable to his own Government.
But there was no interruption in the movement of Japanese
troops. This is all that has passed between the Government of
China and the Government of Japan regarding the dispatch of
troops by Japan to northern Manchuria.
Now, apparently, the Japanese Government construed the casual
reply of the Premier on the 8th as China’s consent to cooperate
in measures of common defense according to the agreement; but
China holds that according to Article 11 of the agreement such
measures should be decided upon and initiated by the highest
military commands of the two countries, and, therefore, an
answer to a mere inquiry from Minister
Hayashi should not be considered as
such a consent by China as is contemplated in the agreement.