500.A4b/547½
Memorandum by the Secretary to the British Empire Delegation of a Conversation at the Department of State, December 2, 1921, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.10a
Secret
- Present:—
- Mr. Hughes
- Mr. Balfour
- Baron Kato
- Sir Maurice Hankey and Mr. . . . . (Japanese interpreter) were also present.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Mr. Hughes then asked Baron Kato if he could say anything as to the attitude of the Japanese Delegation towards the proposed quadruple entente.12 Not a word had been said up to the present time to France about it, but he would like to be in a position in the next few days, if possible, to approach the French Delegation.
Baron Kato said that he had telegraphed to Japan on the subject but had not yet received a reply. The Japanese Delegation in Washington, however, were perfectly satisfied with the proposal and he had no reason to believe that his Government would take any different view. He even indicated that it would be reasonably safe to approach the French Delegation in the matter.
Mr. Hughes said, however, that he was very reluctant to do this owing to the embarrassing situation in which all would be placed if by any chance the Japanese Government should subsequently raise any objection.
Baron Kato then undertook to telegraph to Japan asking them to expedite a reply.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- No agreed official minutes of this conversation were made. The American delegation used the memorandum prepared by Sir Maurice Hankey.↩
- Memorandum printed in full on p. 75.↩
- For the statement of Secretary Hughes that it was he who had proposed that France be included in the treaty, see letter of Dec. 29, 1921, to Mr. Simonds, p. 40.↩