793.94/6608: Telegram
The Ambassador in Great Britain ( Bingham ) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 25—1:35 p.m.]
200. Wellesley sent for Atherton this afternoon and after obviously having discussed with Simon the conversation reported in my 196, April 24, 8 p.m., in a brief talk made it quite clear that any suggestion for concerted consideration by the British and American Governments of the recent Japanese statement was not intended to go beyond an exchange of views. Atherton replied that this was perfectly clear and said the substance of the Washington telegrams he has referred to in his conversation with Wellesley yesterday set forth that the State Department would be glad to consider any suggestions Simon had to submit. Wellesley was obviously anxious that the above points were clearly understood. Wellesley continued that he was under no delusion of the final objective of Japanese policy in regard to China but in the present instance he felt Japan had a fairly strong case for defensive argument of her recent statement. He went on to say that “they” pointed out that the wheat loan T. V. Soong had secured in America last year was contrary to spirit of the four-power consortium agreement of 192051 (I may add that the Chinese Minister informed me yesterday Simon made vague reference to this fact in his conversation with Quo52 on Monday). Wellesley continued that “they” also very much resented the activities of League of Nations through Rajchman in Shanghai. Wellesley expressed his personal viewpoint that in both these matters which concerned China in which Japan had such a great stake geographically and financially Japan could understandably claim to be consulted. Atherton asked Wellesley to whom he referred as “they” but this he did not answer definitely leaving the impression, however, he had had a recent conversation with the Japanese Ambassador. Wellesley then went on to add that he personally [Page 136] did not fear that Japan would use force if foreign nations went contrary to spirit of her recent declaration but that in thousands of insidious ways Japanese influence working in China would be against any foreign project in China not favored by Japan. The weight of this Japanese influence Wellesley felt would be a practically insurmountable obstacle.
- Foreign Relations, 1920, vol. i, p. 576.↩
- Quo Tai-chi, Chinese Minister in Great Britain.↩