893.01 Manchuria/267: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 17—12:13 p.m.]
158. Department’s 129, June 16, 6 p.m.54 Before adjournment the Lower House passed a resolution reading as follows (in translation) “The Government should immediately recognize Manchukuo”. The House of Peers took no action. It is difficult to estimate the value of this resolution but it appears to have been little more than political ebullition to satisfy the public interest in Manchuria. I have no reason to suppose that it was engineered by the Government or that the Government will be influenced unduly thereby or use it as a pretext for action.
The Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs had a conversation with a member of my staff today, said that while the Government would [Page 81] have to take note of this resolution the question of recognition of the Manchukuo régime was not up for consideration at the moment and that the Government would not consider it at all before Count Uchida assumes office as Minister for Foreign Affairs. This will not be before July, in all probability, as Uchida is returning to Dairen to settle up his affairs as President of the South Manchuria Railway. In any case, he added, even if Count Uchida were in favor of immediate recognition, he would feel bound to discuss the question with the League of Nations Commission before recommending action. The Vice Minister added that it was a mistake to assume that Count Uchida believed in immediate recognition, as the latter is a very careful man. He stated further that the Japanese Government would not act precipitately in this matter and in fact could not do so because of the many issues involved.
Repeated to Peiping.
- Not printed; it asked for information.↩