893.01 Manchuria/505
Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs (Hornbeck) of a Conversation With the Former Chinese Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs (Lee)
Mr. Lee called and inquired whether there was anything which might be reported to his Government with regard to the American Government’s reaction to the note sent us by the Chinese Government a few days ago. Mr. Hornbeck said that there was not. Mr. Lee asked whether he might not say that we were consulting with other Governments. Mr. Hornbeck said that it certainly could not be said on authority that we were so doing; it could not as yet be said that we had taken or were taking any action in special connection with the Chinese Government’s note to which Mr. Lee had referred; it stood to reason that we are at all times consulting with other Governments concerning one subject or another. Mr. Lee said that he had noticed in the newspapers statements that Senator Reed has been having conferences with British and French officials. Mr. Hornbeck said that he assumed that the newspaper reports are correct as to that fact, but that, so far as he knew, neither the Department nor Senator Reed has given out statements with regard to the subjects discussed in such conferences. Mr. Lee then said that knowledge by the Chinese authorities that the various governments are consulting with regard to the matters dealt with in Chinese Government’s note would be helpful to those authorities. Mr. Hornbeck said that it stood to reason that no one of the governments addressed by the Chinese Government would fail to give the note its thoughtful consideration or to take such steps as it might deem diplomatically expedient. There followed some discussion of factors of expediency.
Mr. Lee then said that the Chinese Government was worried over [Page 268] the question of Japan’s request to the League for delay in considering the report of the League’s Commission. They felt that delay would be to their disadvantage. The Chinese public is pressing the Government for military action against the Japanese; the Chinese are becoming increasingly of the opinion that reliance on the League has not protected them and will not protect them and that the attitude of patience and non-resistance which they have tried to maintain has resulted to their disadvantage and to Japan’s advantage. South China, both people and leaders, is pressing the Nanking Government for military action. Mr. Lee thinks that if the League assents to further delay the pressure on the Chinese Government by its people will be increased; also, that, as soon as they have gained the assent of the League to delay, the Japanese will, on one pretext or another, proceed with further military operations in and against Jehol. The Chinese Government, he said, has tried to abide by the letter and the spirit of the pledge which they gave last fall not to “further aggravate” the situation; but the Japanese have done the opposite and the League, if it assents to what the Japanese want in this instance, will be contributing to the sum total of aggravation. Mr. Hornbeck said that it seemed to him that a good many considerations could be advanced in support of, and a good many in opposition to the idea of assent by the League to the delay which the Japanese request. He did not want to go into the arguments. It seemed to him that the arguments should be presented by the two disputant parties at Geneva where the question is under consideration; there, the matter will be decided and there each side to best advantage submit its views. The Chinese, he felt, had gained a good deal by the restraint with which they had conducted themselves during the past year, it is going to take a good deal of time and is going to require qualities of patience and endurance to arrive at a sound and lasting solution of the Manchuria problem. Popular excitement, whether it be in Japan or be in China, will make no contribution conclusively effective as regards the ultimate outcome. Neither will any military operations which might be engaged in during the next few weeks. If the Japanese launch another offensive, their position in world esteem will be depreciated. If the Chinese begin an offensive they will impair gains which they have made, by their restraint, in world esteem.
Mr. Lee said that it was going to be exceedingly difficult during the next few weeks for the Chinese Government to resist the demand which is being made on it for positive action but that he would make what contribution he could toward the cause of continuation of restraint.