793.00/109: Telegram

The Minister in China ( MacMurray ) to the Secretary of State

[Paraphrase]

301. Legation’s 263, July 5, 1 p.m. and 275 [277?], July 16, 9 p.m. Your 157, July 18, noon.

1.
I had a conversation July 27 with the Japanese Minister in the course of which he inquired as to my views on proposed American-British-Japanese cooperation. In somewhat general terms I expressed our desire for harmonious action in the sense indicated in my telegram of July 16, 9 p.m., second paragraph.
2.
Yoshizawa then told me that he specifically hoped the representatives here of the three powers would cooperate to facilitate a solution of the Shanghai situation. He said that his Government has been dissatisfied at the unwieldiness of the diplomatic corps as an instrument for conducting negotiations with the Chinese Government, and that it would like to establish such close working relations between the American, British, and Japanese Legations that this group could take the lead in giving coherence and direction to the action of the diplomatic corps.
3.
We frankly discussed the difficulties arising in every endeavor to secure efficient and practical action by the diplomatic corps, due to the punctilios and theorizings of representatives of certain countries having negligible interests in China. We were in complete agreement as to the need of more definite leadership by those powers having the [Page 804] greatest responsibilities and interests. I took the liberty of assuring him that my Government would gladly have me fully cooperate with the British and Japanese for that purpose while agreeing with him that we should be careful to avoid giving offense to representatives of other powers by seeming to constitute a cabal against them. Yoshizawa informed me that the British Chargé had given him to understand that the British Government was favorable to the Japanese suggestion.
4.
Except for saying that there was particular need for good understanding among the three powers in view of the critical situation in China, Yoshizawa gave no indication at all that his Government contemplated more general cooperation. I rather think that the particular object which he stated is really the only immediate object of the Japanese Government, although probably it wishes gradually to develop and extend American-British-Japanese cooperation. Very likely the more general suggestions made to Mayer, reported in his telegram 263, July 5, 1 p.m., were in the nature of a trial balloon to find out how far we are ready to go along with the Japanese Government.
5.
As I felt that the present purpose of the Japanese Government in this matter has dwindled down to relatively narrow limits, I delayed making a report until I should have a chance to see whether the British Chargé would take up the subject with me. I had a long conversation with him yesterday chiefly about the Shanghai affair and he did not refer to the Japanese suggestion although I remarked that I had discussed your draft reply to the Chinese note of June 24 with Yoshizawa. My conclusion is that the British do not attach any great importance to the Japanese suggestion.
6.
Copy of this telegram is being mailed to Tokyo.
MacMurray