861.77/2382: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Warren) to the Secretary of State
[Received 1:45 p.m.]
7. My telegram no. 413 of December 9, 6 [1] p.m.52 Following from Caldwell53 under date of January 14, 8 p.m.:
I am told by the Minister for Foreign Affairs that Far Eastern Republic agent at Washington has informed him regarding Stevens’54 plan for the Chinese Eastern Railway in which management by an Inter-Allied Committee is provided. The Minister is of the opinion that this constitutes no improvement on the present status and that for reasons he has previously given, see my 10, [Page 880] December 7, 9 a.m. [p.m.],55 the Russian Governments at Chita and Moscow will not accept it. The Minister takes it for granted that an Inter-Allied guard would be too largely Japanese, as American troops would not be sent. He assumes also that in selecting members for any Russian guard those chosen would be opposed to the Chita Government and would be too pro-Japanese. He considers that in its fundamental purpose the Stevens plan is not at variance with that which is now being discussed between the Chinese Government and the Soviet representative, and he is sorry that the proponents of the two plans are opposing each other instead of cooperating. The only satisfactory plan in his opinion is to have complete control and administration vested in Soviet Russia and China, the railway to be guarded by troops which these countries approve. The Minister thinks that the best way to obtain the results desired from the Stevens plan is for the American Government to aid in the efforts of the Chita and Moscow Governments.
- Foreign Relations, 1921, vol. i, p. 612.↩
- John K. Caldwell, Japanese secretary of Embassy at Tokyo, on detail at Chita.↩
- John F. Stevens, president of the Technical Board.↩
- See telegram no. 413, Dec. 9, 1921, from the Ambassador in Japan, Foreign Relations, 1921, vol. i, p. 612.↩