793.94/1191–½

Memorandum by the Secretary of State of a Conversation with the Japanese Ambassador (Shidehara), August 18, 1921

[Extract]

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(3) Shantung. The Ambassador asked whether the Secretary had considered the proposal which had been made with respect to Shantung, that is, that this Government should suggest to China that the matter be taken up in direct negotiation between China and Japan.

The Secretary said that he had considered it but found the suggestions which had been made by the Ambassador rather indefinite; that if this Government was to approach China for the purpose of having her enter into negotiations with Japan this Government would naturally desire to know what the conclusion of the negotiations was likely to be; that the Secretary understood that the suggestion was made in the interest of a removal of all causes of possible controversy and that he was taking it up with entire sympathy for this purpose; but that if negotiations were resumed and the outcome were unsatisfactory, the situation would be worse and not better. The Ambassador seemed to agree with this point of view. The Secretary said that if Japan was prepared to deal with the matter in a liberal spirit as the Ambassador had suggested and as the statesmen of Japan had repeatedly stated, there could be no objection to giving this Government full information in the matter; that if this Government felt that the outcome of the negotiations would be satisfactory, it would have no objection to suggesting to China that negotiations should be taken up; while on the other hand if the outcome did not appear to be a desirable one, this Government was not likely to feel that it could take the responsibility of making any suggestions to China as to direct negotiations.

The Ambassador inquired whether this Government would think it necessary to communicate to China the nature of the proposal which might be made, before Japan communicated it directly.

The Secretary said that this Government had constantly in view the substance of the matter and not any mere question of procedure; that if the proposal was not a satisfactory one, this Government would not be disposed to deal with it at all; but that if it were a satisfactory one and Japan desired to have the opportunity of presenting it to China in the first instance, this Government would see no objection to that course, provided it had assurance as to the nature of the proposal to be made. The Secretary said that he thought the whole question turned on the intentions of Japan in [Page 617] the matter, and that he would welcome a very full statement with respect to these.

The Ambassador said that he was not in a position to make any further statement on behalf of his Government but would make inquiry to see whether he could obtain authority to make a more definite suggestion.