701.9493/84
Memorandum by the Under Secretary of State (Phillips) of a Conversation With the British Ambassador (Lindsay)
The British Ambassador said that he assumed we had had a reply from Japan with respect to the action which they might or might not [Page 542] take regarding the raising of their legation in Peiping to the rank of embassy; the Ambassador outlined briefly the reply which the Japanese Foreign Office had given the British Ambassador in Tokyo; this reply was in writing and to the effect that Japan was giving the matter consideration; that in 1925 Japan had decided to take this step, but had not done so on account of chaotic conditions in China; that she would advise the powers if she decided to take the step, etc. etc.
The Ambassador added that, so far as he understood the situation, the United States, Great Britain and France stood together in the belief that this was not an opportune time to establish embassies in Peiping and that anyway neither of the three powers would take this action without previous consultation with the other two.
I said that we had received a reply from Japan along similar lines as that expressed to the British Ambassador in Tokyo and that Sir Ronald was correct in his understanding of the situation as between the United States, Great Britain and France.