711.933/58
Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs (Hornbeck) of a Conversation With the First Secretary of the Japanese Embassy (Kato)
Mr. Kato called and inquired whether the French Government had approached the American Government on the subject of the reply to be made to the Chinese Government’s note of April 27.58 He stated that the French Chargé in Tokyo had approached the Japanese Government and had expressed, for the French Government, the view that the Powers should make reply in common. However, he said, the Japanese Government is in a peculiar position in regard to this matter, for the reason that the Chinese Government had not addressed a note to the Japanese Government.
Mr. Hornbeck said that he supposed it might be assumed that the Chinese Government took the position that it was already negotiating with the Japanese Government on the subject of extraterritoriality, inasmuch as those two Governments are negotiating on the subject of a general treaty. Mr. Kato said that that assumption was sound; nevertheless, the Japanese Government was concerned along with the other Powers with regard to the action which should be taken on the subject of extraterritoriality. He asked again whether the French Government had approached the American Government. Mr. Hornbeck replied that, so far as he knew, the French Government had not made proposals or asked questions of this Government on this subject. Mr. Kato intimated that he thought the governments ought to work together. Mr. Hornbeck asked what the Japanese Government thought ought to be done about the matter. Mr. Kato replied that the Japanese Government had had in mind the [Page 568] report of the Extraterritoriality Commission; it might be doubted, however, whether anyone should expect that the Chinese should be required to carry out all of the recommendations of the Commission. Mr. Kato asked whether the views of the American Government had changed since the delivery to the Japanese Ambassador of the Secretary of State’s reply to the Ambassador’s note last winter. Mr. Hornbeck replied that he believed it accurate to say that this Government’s views had in no way changed.
Mr. Kato asked whether this Government was doing anything with the question of raising the Legations to and from China to the grade of Embassies.59 Mr. Hornbeck stated that the question had been up when the Chinese made the suggestion a few months ago and that the American Government had been inclined to look with favor upon the idea of a change but had taken no action. Mr. Kato asked whether we had been approached again on the subject by the Chinese. Mr. Hornbeck replied that we had not. Mr. Kato stated that at the end of April the Chinese Government had definitely approached the Japanese Government on the subject. Mr. Hornbeck asked whether the Japanese Government had made any reply. Mr. Kato said that the Japanese Government was inclined to the feeling that the foreign governments should act together.
Mr. Kato asked what Mr. Hornbeck thought of the present situation in China. Mr. Hornbeck replied that the situation appeared again to be problematical; that there was unquestionably a big contest on for the possession of Canton and fighting appeared to be impending elsewhere. Mr. Kato said that the Japanese Embassy was informed that a break between Chiang Kai Shek and Feng Yu-hsiang is probably inevitable.
- See note of May 2 from the Chinese Minister, p. 559.↩
- See Foreign Relations, 1928, vol. ii, pp. 199 ff.↩