741.9411/44
The Consul General at London (Skinner) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 30.]
Sir: I have the honor to report that in the House of Commons on July 8, 1920, Mr. MacLean asked the Prime Minister whether, in the negotiations connected with the renewal of the Anglo Japanese Treaty of 1911, the Government has informed the Japanese Government that the provision included in the Treaty of 1911 that both Great Britain and Japan shall respect the territorial rights of the high contracting parties in China shall not be renewed until the question of the spheres of influence and treaty rights of the great Powers in China have been considered by the League of Nations. The following dialogue then took place:—
- Mr. Bonar Law: Negotiations in the sense indicated are not in progress and therefore the question does not arise.
- Mr. MacLean: Are any negotiations being conducted meantime between this country and Japan for a renewal of the Anglo–Japanese Treaty?
- Mr. Bonar Law: I have said that negotiations are not being continued.
I have [etc.]