793.94/6678: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Japan (Grew)
71. Your 92, May 12, 6 p.m. The substantive portion of the French note, as reported in press despatches from Paris, is as follows:
“It is with satisfaction that the French government notes the affirmation thus given by the Japanese government of its fidelity not only to the general principles of international law but to the conventional statutes which now regulate the relations of China with the foreign powers.
“From the last part of the note mentioned above, it appears that Japan cannot remain indifferent to interventions which might prejudice the maintenance of order and justice in the Far East.
“If such events should occur in China the French government believes that the Imperial government would seeks, in concert with the other powers, to find a lawful solution in conformity with the principles which inspire the acts of Washington, and notably by application of the conciliatory procedure laid down in Article 7 of the treaty of February 6, 1922. It is in fact only in this framework and in this form, in the opinion of the French government, that an equitable and satisfactory solution of Chinese questions can be found.”
The Embassy at Paris was informed by the Foreign Office that the French Government had delayed its note until action had been taken by the United States and Britain, for the reason that the [Page 177] French Government wished to be sure that any attitude that it might adopt would be in accord in so far as possible with the policies of the other two countries, whose interests in the issue raised by the Japanese were conceived to be greater than those of France.