893.113/87

The Ambassador in Italy ( Johnson ) to the Acting Secretary of State

No. 262

Sir: With further reference to my despatch No. 247 of December 20th last32 in connection with the reported transactions in arms by Italy in China contrary to the arms embargo, I have the honor to enclose herewith copy and translation of a communication received from the Japanese Embassy in Rome concerning the declarations on the subject made by the Japanese Ambassador, acting under instructions from the Imperial Japanese Government, to the Italian Minister for Foreign Affairs. This communication was received from the Japanese Embassy in exchange for a copy of the Note addressed by this Embassy to the Foreign Office on the subject32—which latter copy was requested by the Japanese Embassy.

I have [etc.]

Robert Underwood Johnson
[Enclosure—Translation]

The Japanese Embassy in Italy to the American Embassy

The Japanese Embassy presents its compliments to the Embassy of the United States of America and has the honor hereby to inform the latter of the general trend of the communication made verbally by the Japanese Ambassador to the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs during an interview which took place on the 23d instant with regard to the prohibition to import arms, etc. into China:

“After having referred to the Note Verbale of December 18, 1919, addressed by the Japanese Embassy to the Italian Ministry for Foreign Affairs relative to the prohibition to supply arms, etc. to China, and after having pointed out the fact that, on the one hand, according to the statement of the Italian Legation at Peking the delivery of arms, ammunition, and other war material deposited at Shanhaikwan would be forbidden, but that such embargo would be raised if, in the judgment of the Italian Legation, the political [Page 536] conditions of China should permit, and that on the other hand there was a rumor of traffic in the aforesaid goods between the Italians and the Chinese at Shanghai—a rumor which the Italian Authorities in China were reported to have thought necessary to deny,—the Japanese Ambassador, in conformity with the instructions of his Government, requested the Italian Minister for Foreign Affairs to give assurances concerning the participation of the Italian Government in the prohibition to import arms, ammunition and war material into China, and not to raise such embargo until after a decision to be made by common agreement between the interested powers.”

  1. Not printed; see telegram no. 479, Dec. 20, 1920, from the Ambassador in Italy, ibid., p. 754.
  2. Not printed; see telegram no. 479, Dec. 20, 1920, from the Ambassador in Italy, ibid., p. 754.