793.94 Commission/340
Memorandum by the Minister in China (Johnson)7
Dr. Blakeslee left with me this morning a typed memorandum of two interviews between the Commission of the League and Count Uchida, Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs. The two interviews occurred on July 12th and 14th respectively.
In the first interview Count Uchida quite frankly informed Lord Lytton and the Commission of Japan’s intention to recognize Manchukuo as an independent state, arguing that the people of Manchuria desired to be independent of Chinese rule; that Manchuria was Japan’s life line; that the safety of Japan depended upon peace in Manchuria; that Japan had been forced to fight a number of wars over conditions in Manchuria, and had spent much blood and treasure there; that Japan had been willing to negotiate directly with China on matters connected with Manchuria, but the declaration of the independence of Manchukuo and the setting up of an independent government there had changed all this and made any direct negotiations with China useless and unnecessary.
Count Uchida informed the Commission that Japan had no definite knowledge of the boundaries of Manchukuo, but believed that Manchukuo extended from the four eastern provinces and eastern Inner Mongolia.
Count Uchida stated quite definitely that Japan had no intention of discussing the question of Japan’s policy vis-à-vis Manchukuo with the nations party to the Covenant of the League of Nations, or with the nations party to the Nine-Power Treaty. He stated that all of these matters had been given consideration and it had been determined that neither the Covenant of the League nor the Nine-Power Treaty were involved in any question of Japan’s right to recognize the new and independent state. The only question that remained between Manchukuo and China was whether China should recognize Manchukuo.
In the second interview, Lord Lytton and other members of the Commission tried to persuade Count Uchida that, whatever Japan’s intentions were in regard to Manchukuo, the League Commission representing the League and public opinion of the world had no intention of making further inquiry; but that the Commission was concerned over the procedure and wished to impress upon Count Uchida [Page 176] the importance to Japan in this matter of taking the other Powers into its confidence, particularly those party to the Nine-Power Treaty, and not hurting their feelings by taking action without consultation.
In this conversation as in the first Count Uchida was reported as having stated that the question of Japan’s policy vis-à-vis Manchukuo was settled; that Japan felt that there was no breaking of the Treaty or of the Covenant in what Japan intended to do; nor did Japan feel that she was bound by those agreements to consult the other Powers in regard to her policy.
Lord Lytton pointed out to Count Uchida that the League of Nations was the result of wars fought in Europe; that it represented to war-weary Europe the bread-line of Europe; that it was an achievement won at the cost of a great deal of blood and treasure; and that Europe was interested that it be maintained.
Count Uchida argued that whether or not Japan recognized the independence of Manchukuo was no concern of the League; that China was always appealing to the League; that if the peace of the East was to be preserved, the League should persuade China to cease worrying about Japan’s policy in regard to Manchukuo, and to recognize Manchukuo.
- Copy transmitted to the Department by the Minister in his despatch No. 1673, August 4, 1932; received August 29.↩