793.94/2722
Memorandum by the Under Secretary of State (Castle) of a Conversation With the Japanese Ambassador (Debuchi)
The Ambassador came in primarily to inform the Department that his Government had ordered Mr. Matsudaira to go to Paris to be there during the session of the League. Mr. Matsudaira will, of course, have no connection with the League, but like Mr. Dawes will be on hand and available for conference. Mr. Debuchi says that he will be expected to “play ball with Mr. Dawes.” He feels that it will be very valuable to have Mr. Matsudaira there because he not only stands well with the Foreign Office, but has a very high position in court circles.
Mr. Debuchi brought up with me the statement made in the papers this morning that a plot had been discovered against Baron Wakatsuki, Baron Shidehara and Count Makino.18 He said that to this [Page 447] list should be added Inouye.19 Mr. Debuchi said there was no doubt of the accuracy of this report, since he had had private advices from Tokyo that ten young army officers had been arrested during October. It is possible that more may have been arrested since. The Japanese press has been ordered to say nothing about it, and has obeyed orders. The men were arrested after an attempt was actually made on the lives of some or all of these men.
The Ambassador says that with the state of feeling in Japan with regard to Manchuria, the position of the Wakatsuki cabinet is very dangerous and that, therefore, Baron Shidehara immensely appreciates the patience which the Secretary of State has shown through all the recent trouble.
The Ambassador told me something about the situation at the bridge-head on the Nonni River. He says that the Japanese troops have orders not to proceed any further north, that under no circumstances are they to get into the region north of the Chinese Eastern Railway as shown in the attached map.20 He says that the rumor in the attached telegram21 that General Ma has been ordered to evacuate Tsitsihar is complete[ly] false, that the Chinese never stop to check up on such stories, but immediately send them to Geneva. Their principal agent for the filing of political information is said to be Rajchman [Rajchman?] who was sent out by the League to take charge of sanitary measures. The Japanese Government has appealed to the League to urge the Chinese not to permit General Ma to attack the Japanese contingent guarding the bridge building. Unless such attack is made, there is no danger of further Japanese advance. All the papers say this morning would appear to show the truth of the Ambassador’s remarks.