893.51/2752: Telegram
The Chargé in Great Britain (Wright) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 1—4:56 p.m.]
545. Memorandum supported by personal conversation in the sense of all but last paragraph of your 329, March 30, 5 p.m. left with Foreign Office this morning which had received advices to the same effect from Tokyo last night.
Although Easter holidays may delay formal reply and announcement of British Government’s decision, I clearly infer (1) that this Government believes that if continued firm stand were made by Great Britain, France and the United States to include the Chengchiatun-Taonanfu and Changchun-Taonanfu Railways within the consortium the Japanese would finally accede but at the expense of further friction and protracted delay; (2) that British group, particularly Sir Charles Addis, is not yet wholly reconciled to the exclusion of these railways; (3) that notwithstanding above considerations the Foreign Office is inclined to agree with us that in view of the concession made by Japan regarding the territorial or geographical exclusion of Southern Manchuria and Eastern Inner Mongolia, it would be wise to yield this point as suggested by Lamont; and (4) that the concurrence of the French in this opinion is highly probable, but not actually assured.
Unless Lord Curzon fails to support this opinion the above will, in all probability, form the British Government’s reply, which I have requested be made as soon as possible.
Paris informed.