500.A15A5/310: Telegram

The Chairman of the American Delegation (Davis) to the Secretary of State

[Paraphrase]

66. This morning I made a visit to Matsudaira and informed him that whenever Japan gives notification of denunciation, on or before [Page 269] December 31, the United States will construe this as tantamount to a termination of the negotiations and will expect adjournment to take place immediately thereafter.

In replying, Matsudaira stated that it had been his assumption that as it was compulsory under the Washington Treaty to call a conference within a year after denunciation, the United States would continue the conversations as preparatory to this meeting. My reply was, would Japan wish, under the terms of the Washington Treaty, to request a conference. Matsudaira said he doubted this, because the inference would be that the Japanese had receded from the position taken by them. The other powers for like reasons might possibly feel the same way, I stated. The hope was expressed by Matsudaira that we might succeed in laying the basis of an understanding which would enable us to reconvene within the next few months and thus avoid embarrassment to the Governments interested in the matter. I informed Matsudaira, in conclusion, that while I had no desire to say anything which might influence in one way or the other the Japanese Government, I was of the opinion that I should let him know that until his Government wished to terminate the conversations they should not denounce the treaty. Matsudaira stated that he was glad to learn of this and that, although the Japanese Government could not delay denunciation beyond December 31, he did not believe that denunciation would be made in less than two weeks.

Davis