893.01 Manchuria/297
Memorandum by the Assistant Chief of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs (Hamilton)
Dr. Hawkling Yen called and referred to his conversation of June 17 with Mr. Castle on the subject of Japan’s reported intent to recognize the régime in Manchuria. Dr. Yen stated that subsequent to his conversation with Mr. Castle he had received a telegram from Dr. W. W. Yen at Geneva stating that the League Assembly Committee of Nineteen would continue in existence for another six months; that the Committee of Nineteen would meet the coming week; that the Committee would probably consider the situation presented by reports that Japan intended to recognize the present régime in Manchuria; and that in Dr. Yen’s opinion the hands of the Committee of Nineteen would be greatly strengthened if the American Government would make known to the Committee its attitude with regard to the question of Japan recognizing the Manchuria régime.
Dr. Hawkling Yen stated that the Chinese Government felt that the passage of a resolution by the lower house of the Japanese Diet recommending immediate recognition by Japan constituted a trial balloon, that the Chinese Government thought that because of the passage of this resolution the time had come when it would be very opportune for the United States and the other interested powers to declare their attitude toward Japanese recognition of the Manchuria régime; that in the opinion of the Chinese Foreign Office recognition by Japan of the Manchuria régime would constitute a violation of the Nine Power Treaty, would be violative of Japan’s commitments [Page 85] to the League and to the United States, and would be inconsistent with the statements made by the American Government in its identic note of January 7 to China and Japan56 and in the Secretary’s letter of February 23 to Senator Borah.57
Mr. Hamilton stated that the passage of the resolution referred to by the Japanese House of Representatives presented the question of whether such a resolution would have any effect upon the Japanese Government’s action in the matter and Mr. Hamilton stated that it was his understanding that such a resolution was not mandatory upon the Government. Mr. Hamilton stated that the Department was of course alive to the situation and was following developments with care. When Dr. Hawkling Yen reiterated that in the opinion of the Chinese Government and of Dr. W. W. Yen it would be helpful for the American Government to make known its attitude in regard to this question, Mr. Hamilton stated that he could make no further comment. Mr. Hamilton suggested that the Chinese Chargé might care to speak to the Secretary about the matter and the Chargé left with the understanding that Mr. Hamilton would endeavor to ascertain whether the Secretary would see the Chargé or indicate to Mr. Hamilton what the Secretary desired that Mr. Hamilton say to the Chargé.
Note: In a telephone conversation with the Chinese Chargé on June 23, Mr. Hamilton informed the Chargé that while he had not seen the Secretary he had talked with the Under Secretary and that it was not felt that we could make any comment on this matter additional to that already made by the Under Secretary and Mr. Hamilton. Mr. Hamilton added that our reports do not indicate that the question of recognition is as imminent as it had appeared several days ago, to which the Chargé replied that his most recent information was to the effect that the question was still imminent.
- See telegram No. 2, January 7, noon, to the Consul General at Nanking, and footnote 9, vol. iii, p. 7.↩
- See telegram No. 50, February 24, 2 p.m., to the Consul General at Shanghai, Foreign Relations, Japan, 1931–1941, vol. i, p. 83.↩