500.A4/258½
Memorandum by the Secretary of State of a Conversation with the Chinese Minister (Sze), November 5, 1921
The Chinese Minister said that he had not had an opportunity at the last interview to speak fully with regard to the agenda for the Conference; that he desired to say as a personal word that he had endeavored to persuade his Government to accept the agenda as proposed; that he had deferred taking the matter up fully with the Secretary until he had had an opportunity to consult with his delegation; that this consultation had been had and that the Chinese Delegation thought he should bring the matters that China had in mind to the attention of the Secretary and have an understanding with him.
The Minister said that the Chinese Government wished to bring up the matter of tariff autonomy and that he understood that this could be brought up under the heading of administrative integrity of China without an amendment of it; the Secretary said that in his opinion this could be done so far as presenting the question for general discussion was concerned.
The Minister said that they were particularly interested in the question of “Commitments” and were desirous of knowing whether under this heading the Anglo-Japanese Alliance could be brought into the Conference.
The Secretary said that he thought that any restriction upon the discussion of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance would not result from the form of the agenda but from an unwillingness of Great Britain and Japan to discuss it at the Conference; that the Alliance was a matter between the two Governments, Great Britain and Japan, and that if they refused to discuss it at the Conference, no good would be accomplished by putting it on the agenda; that on the contrary, the bringing of the matter up in a preliminary way would simply be an obstacle to its discussion as it would very likely invite a protest; that if, on the other hand, the developments of the Conference afforded any possibility for the appropriate discussion of the Anglo-Japanese [Page 83] Alliance, then the discussion could be had and in the Secretary’s view that is the only way that the discussion of that matter could be brought about. The Secretary said that therefore he thought that the Chinese Government would be ill advised if they proposed as an addition to the agenda the Anglo-Japanese Alliance.
The Secretary said that he had noted that in the statement which the Minister had given to him at the last interview, the reference in the agenda to the Chinese Eastern Railway had been omitted; that he wished to advise the Minister that he was very certain that the subject of the Chinese Eastern Railway would be discussed; that it had international aspects and he did not see how the discussion of that matter could be avoided; that, however, he wished to assure the Minister that in proposing the subject of the Railway, the American Government had no idea of any action which would impair any legitimate Chinese or Russian interests; that it was not the purpose of the American Government to ask an interest in the Railway for itself or for its nationals, but simply to perfect the existing Stevens administration so that the Railway might be more efficient as an instrumentality of commerce and that this had for its object the protection of all legitimate interests, and hence the Chinese Government had no reason to object to the discussion of the Railway matter.
The Minister said that he wished to make a personal suggestion with regard to the opening session of the Conference; that he hoped that no distinction would be made with respect to the powers invited to participate in the discussion of Pacific and Far Eastern questions.
The Secretary said that this was a natural suggestion for the Minister to make, and he appreciated the motive which prompted it, but that the Minister must understand the position of the American Government; that all the governments which had not been invited to attend the Conference were perfectly content with the invitations extended to the powers with respect to the discussion of Far Eastern questions because it was realized that it was practically impossible for the American Government to invite all the Governments of the world to participate, and the special interest of the powers invited in the Far Eastern questions was understood; that if, however, it appeared that those powers specially invited for that discussion took part in the discussion of limitation of armament, it would at once provoke a great deal of feeling on the part of the other powers who had not been invited; that for example if the Netherlands took part in the discussion of limitation of armaments, it would be impossible to explain why Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Spain, Brazil and Chile did not take part; that therefore it was [Page 84] important that it should appear that the participation of the powers specially invited for that purpose was only in the discussion of Pacific and Far Eastern questions; The Minister said that he appreciated this and only wished to make a personal suggestion in the hope that no distinction would be made in the opening session which he understood would not consider the question of limitation of armaments. The Secretary said that he was unable to state at this time all that would be done at the opening session; that he had the entire matter in mind; and that the Minister should feel assured that all arrangements made would be made in the light of the desire not to wound the sensibilities of any of the delegations, but on the other hand, to maintain the distinction set forth in the invitations so that the uninvited powers would fully understand.