793.94/2048
Memorandum by the Secretary of State
The Japanese Ambassador came in and I told him that I was very profoundly disturbed at the situation which had developed in Manchuria. I told him that in considering the original coup of September 18th in Manchuria, I had been reassured, not only by the Ambassador’s explanation that this did not represent his government, but by the Resolution of September 30th of the League of Nations, which both China and Japan had consented to, under which the Japanese were to withdraw as soon as possible into the railway zone and the Chinese were to protect Japanese nationals. I read him the provisions. I said that now events have occurred which indicated that these commitments were likely to be repudiated. I referred to the bombing of Chinchow and I referred to the statement of the General Staff that they would not withdraw to the railway zone. I then read to the Ambassador the questions which I had telegraphed to Baron Shidehara through Neville,34 and he asked me if I had received an answer. [Page 20] I told him that I had but that answer did not reassure me,35 and I then read the contents to him, emphasizing particularly the statement of Baron Shidehara that the affair of the bombing was a matter of no importance. The Ambassador did not attempt to defend that. He said at once that it was a matter of great importance. I said it was a matter of great importance in this country. I pointed out that Baron Shidehara’s objection to Chang, the Governor of Kirin, and Wang, the Governor of Hopei, had given me the unfortunate impression that Baron Shidehara did not differ from the accounts that were appearing in the press to the effect the army made up his mind not to permit the resumption by the young Marshal Chang of the government which he had formerly exercised in Manchuria and I pointed out that this seemed to me to be a complete departure from the policy of the Resolution of September 30th. The Ambassador said he could make no answer to this, but he was quite sure that Baron Shidehara did not minimize the bombing incident or regard it as of no importance. I then read to him the article by Hugh Byas in the Times, reporting that the Cabinet had met yesterday and substantially indicated that they regarded it as of not sufficient importance to resign. I asked him to convey to Baron Shidehara my position as above stated and I resummarized it to the effect that I had been reassured by the commitments of the Resolution of September 30th, and I was now greatly disturbed by these events, including Baron Shidehara’s answer to my questions, as well as the other news from Manchuria which indicated that those commitments were going to be violated. He said he would report that to Baron Shidehara and begged me not to do anything in the meanwhile. I said I could make no such commitment—that I must retain full liberty of action, as matters were changing too rapidly. I told him that the League was going to meet next week and that we should undoubtedly follow the policy which we had already initiated of cooperating with the League on this matter.