893.113/203: Telegram
The Ambassador in Italy ( Child ) to the Secretary of State
[Received 9:08 p.m.]
258. Japanese Chargé d’Affaires called upon me this morning and referring to the decision taken on the initiative of the American Minister in Peking by the Governments of the United States, Great [Page 563] Britain, France, Italy and Japan on April 8, 1919,73 to abstain from importing arms and munitions to China and to the withdrawal on the part of the Italian Government of the reservation made by the Italian Minister at Peking April 26th, 1919,74 in regard to the execution of contracts already made for the delivery of arms, stated that in spite of this decision a part of arms and munitions which will include [sic] the Italian garrison at Shanhaikwan were delivered about the 21st or 22nd of last month to the Chinese garrisons in the same city. He adds that to an inquiry made of the Italian Chargé d’Affaires at Peking the latter had replied that he has never received instruction from his Government to withdraw the reservation above referred to and does not consider consequently that the delivery of these arms is in contravention to the agreement. The Japanese Chargé d’Affaires urges me to follow the initiative taken by United States in Peking by protest to the Italian Government. I replied that I would submit the matter to your attention and await your instructions. The Japanese Chargé d’Affaires is consulting the Allied chiefs of missions concerned and begs me for a prompt decision.
- See telegram of Apr. 10, 1919, from the Minister in China, Foreign Relations, 1919, vol. i, p. 667.↩
- See telegram of May 17, 1919, from the Minister in China, ibid., p. 670.↩