893.01 Manchuria/490
Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs (Hornbeck) of a Conversation With the First Secretary of the Chinese Legation (Kung)
Dr. Kung called and said that he was instructed by his Government to inform the Department that the Chinese Government understands [Page 229] that the Japanese Government has definitely decided to accord recognition to “Manchoukuo” on or before September 18. The Chinese Government wished to inquire what action, in that event, the American Government would take.
Mr. Hornbeck said, with some statement of reasons why, that he would prefer not to try to give a reply to that inquiry.
Dr. Kung then said that the Chinese Government was thinking of asking for the calling of a conference under the Nine-Power Treaty. He asked what the American Government would think of such a step. Mr. Hornbeck replied that, speaking unofficially and expressing a personal view, it would seem to him that the present would not be an opportune moment for the advancing of such a proposal. In view of the imminence of the receipt by the League of Nations of the report of the Manchuria Commission, it would seem that the publishing of the findings of that Commission should be awaited—especially inasmuch as the taking of such a step at this time could scarcely be expected to have any practical effect other than that of further complicating an already complicated situation.