893.00/8241
Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs (Johnson)
- Conversation
- Mr. Sao-Ke Alfred Sze, Chinese Minister.
- Mr. J. C. Grew—Under Secretary of State.
- (Present: Mr. N. T. Johnson)
Subject: The Chinese Situation.
The Chinese Minister called upon Mr. Grew this morning and stated that he had seen a report from London to the effect that we were increasing our naval forces in Chinese waters; that he had understood the Secretary to say that we had not increased our forces and that he would like very much to have some information on the matter so that he could reassure his own people. Mr. Grew informed the Chinese Minister that he was not able to comment on statements made to the Minister by the Secretary, but that we had not increased the number of our naval vessels in Chinese waters except to send some additional destroyers from Manila to Shanghai and places on the Yangtze where the lives of Americans had been threatened. Mr. Grew stated he did not see how any Government could make any statement as to what it might do in case of any contingency. Mr. Johnson explained that the Asiatic Fleet, which was based at Manila, [Page 256] consisted of two sections, one section remaining at Manila most of the year, while the other section, mostly made up of small river gunboats, were more or less permanently in Chinese waters. The Secretary had stated to the Minister that American naval vessels were in these waters for the protection of American life and property only; that the Asiatic Fleet had not been increased by one ship so far as the Department knew, although several destroyers had been sent from Manila to Shanghai and the Yangtze Valley, and that the Admiral had gone from Manila to Shanghai with his Flagship. Mr. Johnson added that the newspapers reported that marines formerly at Guam had been shifted from Guam to Manila, to be held there for emergency and some other marines had been concentrated at San Diego, eventually to be sent to Guam to replace the marines formerly at Guam. The newspapers also reported that three cruisers had been ordered to Honolulu. The Chinese Minister referred to the fact that the Secretary had promised him a memorandum regarding this Government’s policy of sending its naval forces in Asiatic waters, which he had not received, thus being unable to keep his Government informed or to prevent misunderstandings. Mr. Johnson stated that he did not know exactly in what form the Secretary intended to make this memorandum but that he understood the Secretary intended to make a little memorandum stating just what vessels we had and where. The Chinese Minister stated that it was very difficult for him to keep his people informed unless he knew exactly what was going on, that he had informed them that we were not sending more vessels but that more vessels had arrived. Mr. Johnson had explained that these additional vessels were merely part of the fleet in Asiatic waters. The Minister made some remark about not being able to understand the subtleties of the English language. Mr. Grew said that we did not deal in subtleties but we dealt openly and frankly to the point; that no Government could engage not to send vessels to protect its citizens, that we could only tell him what had been done at the time we spoke and that we could not speak for the future.
The Minister stated that he had seen in the press a statement to the effect that the President had called Senator Borah into conference the other day and afterwards it was announced that the President was considering the appointment of a commission to take up the question of negotiations of new treaties with China. The Minister asked if there was any truth in this. Mr. Grew stated he knew nothing about it. Mr. Johnson referred to the articles in question and stated that he had seen a memorandum of the President’s press conference but had seen no reference whatever to any such commission.