861.77 Chinese Eastern/623: Telegram
The Chargé in Japan (Neville) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 7—6:37 a.m.]
118. Department’s 124, December 5, 5 p.m. It is not my belief that our action will be attributed by the Japanese to a desire to intrude respecting Manchurian affairs, nor is this indicated by press comment. In responsible quarters I have not heard anything to that effect. I have been asked by the Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs to assure you that he understands your disinterested motives and that his unwillingness to take part in formal representations arises not because of disagreement with their purpose, but from his feeling that, after he had been informally and confidentially talking over the question with both parties and since he knew China and Russia were about to open direct negotiations, he could not press suddenly for formal action.