793.94/4763
Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs (Hornbeck) of a Conversation With the Chinese Chargé (Yen)
As instructed by the Secretary of State, Mr. Hornbeck asked Dr. Yen to call.
Mr. Hornbeck showed Dr. Yen a copy of Mr. Gilbert’s telegram 110, March 9, 10 a.m., from Geneva.80 This telegram contains the text of a communication dated March 8 circulated by the Secretary General of the League at Geneva purporting to contain the text of a telegram received by Dr. W. W. Yen from the Chinese Legation in Washington.
Mr. Hornbeck stated that the Secretary was surprised and displeased [Page 551] at noting that a report of a conversation between himself and Dr. Hawkling Yen had thus been circulated at Geneva. He especially objected to its having been made to appear that he had taken a position with regard to the manner in which the evacuated area was to be policed.
Dr. Yen stated that he had been surprised himself at noting in the morning papers that Dr. W. W. Yen had made this communication public at Geneva. He said that it must have occurred in a situation of emergency and was probably done for the purpose of refuting statements or intimations made by representatives of some other states. He produced and read a telegram which he said he had just received from Dr. W. W. Yen—of which he permitted Mr. Hornbeck to have made a copy (attached).81 He said that neither he nor Dr. W. W. Yen would wish to do or would under any circumstances intentionally do anything which might be embarrassing to the Secretary of State. They appreciated very greatly the position which the American Government was taking and it was not only their desire to be helpful but their desire to be in no way the opposite. He asked that Mr. Hornbeck assure the Secretary of that.
Mr. Hornbeck said that he was confident that such was the attitude of the Chinese representatives and that it was of course realized that Dr. W. W. Yen is waging a difficult diplomatic campaign and that things move rapidly; but that it would probably be safer to leave it to representatives of the American Government to express views of the American Government. Dr. Yen said that he quite understood that and he concurred. He said that he would convey that suggestion to Dr. W. W. Yen. He said that he was sure that Dr. W. W. Yen had undertaken to state what he had understood to be the American Government’s position only because the American Government had no representative present in the meeting and it had seemed that the American Government’s view should be made known at the moment. He again asked that this explanation and the substance of Dr. W. W. Yen’s telegram be communicated to the Secretary with expression of regret if too great a liberty had been taken or any embarrassment occasioned.
Mr. Hornbeck said that he would inform the Secretary.
The conversation then turned to the subject of the situation and problem at Shanghai. Dr. Yen said that China, like the United States, desired that the matter be handled on the basis of justice. Mr. Hornbeck took occasion to say that, speaking unofficially, he felt that China should take into consideration not alone the question of justice but considerations of equity and considerations of practical expediency. [Page 552] He expressed the hope that the Chinese themselves would at the right moment come forward with some plan for dealing with the problem of the port of Shanghai on a basis which would take into consideration not alone the rights of China but the rights and the best interests of all concerned.