Papers relating to the foreign relations of the United States, 1929, Volume I

500.A15a3/281

The Japanese Ambassador (Debuchi) to the Secretary of State

Washington, October 16, 1929.

My Dear Mr. Secretary: With reference to our conversation this morning, I take pleasure in sending you herewith, for your information, a copy of the reply of my Government to the British Note of October 7. I may add that the text is to be released to the press at Tokio at 9 o’clock, this Friday evening.

With best regards [etc.]

K. Debuchi

[Enclosure]

Japanese Note Accepting the Invitation of the British Government To Participate in a Naval Conference

1. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Note dated October 7, informing me of a provisional and informal agreement reached between the Prime Minister and the American Ambassador at London on the subject of naval disarmament, and inviting the Japanese Government to participate in a Conference which it is proposed to summon in London, to consider the categories of ships not covered by the Washington Treaty, and to arrange for and deal with the questions covered by the second paragraph of Article 21 of that Treaty.

2. Having laid before my Government the contents of your Note under acknowledgement, I am desired to state in reply that the Japanese Government are happy to signify their entire concurrence in the desirability of the proposed Conference, and are ready to appoint representatives to take part in that Conference. The date suggested for the opening of the Conference, namely, the beginning of the third week of January, 1930, is also agreeable to my Government.

3. The Japanese Government are further gratified to know of the willingness of the British Government to continue informal conversations with me, as hitherto, on many points which may require elucidation. They note that similar discussions conducted in London by the Prime Minister with the American Ambassador during the last three months had cleared the ground for an agreement on essential points between the British and American Governments, prior to the invitation extended to other naval Powers to meet in a Conference. My Government attach the highest importance to the same procedure being followed by the Japanese and British Governments, in order to ensure agreement between them on various questions that are to be laid before the Conference. The success of the forthcoming Conference no doubt depends in a large measure upon the satisfactory issue of such preliminary discussions, and my Government confidently trust that the informal conversations between the British Government and myself on questions of special moment will be carried on and completed before these questions are presented to the Conference for final adjustment.

4. In your Note under review, it is intimated that the British Government propose to communicate to me in due course their views as to the subjects for discussions at the Conference. The Japanese Government are looking forward to such a communication with keen interest, and, on their part, they will be glad to furnish the British Government with a corresponding communication as desired.

5. With regard to the four points of principle mentioned in your Note as the subject of provisional agreement between the British and American Governments, the Japanese Government hope to be able to submit their observations in the course of the informal conversations which I shall shortly permit myself to hold with the British Government. They would, however, make use of this occasion to answer [assure?] you of their cordial support to the principle that the Treaty for the Renunciation of War, signed at Paris in 1928, should be taken as the starting point for all discussions on disarmament. They feel confident that the sense of national security inspired by the provision of that Treaty in the mutual relations of the contracting Powers will pave the way for the final settlement of the outstanding questions relative to naval disarmament.

6. In conclusion, I am instructed to express the sincere and earnest hope of the Japanese Government that the Conference will succeed in the adoption of plans calculated to promote international peace and goodwill, and to relieve humanity of the heavy burden of armament whether existing or contemplated. It is not merely the limitation, but also the reduction of armament, that all nations should seek to attain.