893.01 Manchuria/1045
Memorandum by the Under Secretary of State (Phillips)
The Netherlands Minister informed me that his Government was slightly embarrassed by the reports emanating from Japan that Pu Yi is shortly to be invited by the Japanese Government to make a state visit to Tokyo. In the event of the Diplomatic Corps’ being invited to meet him, what should be their attitude? Apparently the Netherlands Minister in Tokyo has asked his government for instructions in such an eventuality. The Minister added that, while he thought his government held the view that the Netherlands Minister to Japan should not accept any invitation to meet Pu Yi, nevertheless his government would be glad to know the attitude of the State Department. I replied that the question has not as yet arisen with us and, therefore, no instructions had been sent to our Ambassador in Japan; but my personal viewpoint was that this was something which the Diplomatic Corps in Japan would naturally act upon with unanimity; that since none of the governments had as yet recognized Pu Yi in Manchuria, it scarcely seemed possible to give any recognition to him merely because he crossed over into Japan. I added that I would gladly keep the Legation here advised of any instructions which we might in due course send to Tokyo.