793.94/6869: Telegram
The Counselor of Legation in China (Peck) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 14—8 a.m.]
32. On the evening of February 13 the Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs gave an interview to a group of Chinese newspaper representatives. As reported to me orally, they asked him whether the Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs was coming to China and he replied evasively. They called attention to the reports of proposals made to China by Japan for economic cooperation and asked him what his attitude was. He replied that the primary essentials for China at present are peace and reconstruction and he said that the Chinese Government would be willing to accept economic assistance from any nation which offered it on a basis of equality and reciprocity.