793.94/6614: Telegram
The Counselor of Legation in China (Peck) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 26—9:25 a.m.]
32. 1. Informal press release by the Chinese Foreign Office April 25 announced attempts by Japanese diplomats in China to explain away points in the Japanese April 17 statement and rebut them. Statement concluded with assertion that China is working for international security and for upholding treaties such as Nine-Power Treaty58 and the League Covenant59 and that realization of this policy depends largely on the cooperation of the countries concerned.
2. There are evident indications that China’s spirit of resistance to Japan has been revived and strengthened by belief that the effect of the Japanese April 17 statement is to join the Nine-Power Treaty signatories with China as victims of Japanese treaty violation. Apparently Chinese Government intends to press this point energetically even to the extent ultimately of heading a conference of treaty signatories if necessary. Repeated to the Legation and the American Minister.
- Foreign Relations, 1922, vol. i, p. 276.↩
- Treaties, Conventions, etc., Between the United States and Other Powers, 1910–1923 (Washington, Government Printing Office, 1923), vol. iii, p. 3336.↩