793.94/6699
Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs (Hornbeck)
The Chinese Minister called and said that the meeting of this committee was to be held in Geneva on Thursday next (May 17). He [Page 382] said that his Government was very much concerned with regard to this meeting and hoped that the American Government would take an active part. He wished to know whether we were going to be represented and what, if anything, we had in contemplation.
Mr. Hornbeck replied that it was his understanding that Mr. Wilson (or Mr. Mayer) would be present at the meeting of the committee. The Minister said that he hoped he would take an active part. Mr. Hornbeck said that he did not see how the American Government could take part actively in the affairs of a committee in which it had not membership of an organization of which it was not a member. The Minister said that this meeting was of vital importance to China. Mr. Hornbeck observed that China is a member of the League and is in position to take whatever action the Chinese Government may choose to take. The Minister still insisted that the United States should be “active”. Mr. Hornbeck indicated that it was not to be expected that it would do so.