893.01 Manchuria/1300
The Consul General at Harbin (Adams) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 18.]
Sir: I have the honor to report statements made to me by Mr. Balser, German Consul at Harbin, on the subject of relations between “Manchukuo” and Germany.
Mr. Balser stated that the question of relations between Germany and “Manchukuo” were of some importance because of the considerable trade between the two countries based upon the shipment of soy beans from Manchuria to Germany. He stated that Germany was not committed to the attitude of the League of Nations towards “Manchukuo” and that the question of according formal recognition to “Manchukuo” had received the serious consideration of the German Government. He said that Germany considered that China herself would soon be required by Japan to recognize “Manchukuo” and that the way would then be open for Germany to act promptly. For this reason Germany had dropped, for the time being, the question of recognizing “Manchukuo”, feeling that a short delay would be better than to risk the effect of Chinese resentment upon the considerable German interests in China proper which German recognition of “Manchukuo” at the present time might entail.
I asked Mr. Balser whether the question of the formal recognition of “Manchukuo” by Germany had arisen in connection with the approaching visit of the German economic mission. He replied that it had been very much to the fore in the discussions which he had been conducting with the authorities at Hsinking with regard to the visit of the mission. He said that the Hsinking authorities had been so emphatic on this point that he had finally stated that if they insisted upon it he would be forced to recommend that the German economic mission avoid visiting “Manchukuo”. He stated that the “Manchukuo” authorities had thereupon assured him that the question of recognition need not be taken up at present and that they by all means desired the mission to visit “Manchukuo”.
Mr. Balser said that the German economic mission would arrive in Tokyo on October 25, 1935.
Respectfully yours