793.94/10329
Memorandum by the Adviser on Political Relations (Hornbeck)
| Conversation: | The Secretary of State. |
| The Chinese Ambassador, Dr. C. T. Wang. | |
| Present: Mr. Hornbeck. |
The Chinese Ambassador called this morning at his own request.
The Ambassador opened the conversation with reference to the Secretary’s recent trip to Boston and New York; pleasantries were exchanged.
The Ambassador said that he had come to express appreciation of the American Government’s “vigorous protest” against the inhuman Japanese bombing of Chinese citizens.51 He spoke especially of the bombing yesterday at Canton.
The Ambassador said that he had come seeking “light.” It had been reported to him that if the League of Nations declared Japan an aggressor the United States would be forced to apply the Neutrality Act. He did not see why this was so. He wondered about it. The Secretary mentioned authority given by Congress in connection with the Chaco dispute, enabling this country to impose an embargo.52 He said that the controversy over the League of Nations question in this country had been bitter and had revolved around the question of the [Page 31] aggressor and sanctions. President Wilson’s administration had been swept out of office and opponents of the League had come into control. A part of the question had been the question of imposing embargoes. Here in the Department we have stood for the principle of executive discretion. Extreme nationalists have opposed the principle (of sanctions) which appears in the League machinery. The sentiment grew up with reference to Europe. In confidence, he himself had not been a supporter of it.
The Ambassador said that he understood that Mr. Bruce of Australia had put forward the idea of a conference of powers which have interests in the Pacific “basin.” There followed some discussion of what powers this might comprise. The Ambassador said that he thought eight or nine had been mentioned. He said the idea had been supported by Great Britain and France. He wished to know what would be the attitude of this Government. The Secretary replied that we had not heard anything of it as yet. The Ambassador asked that when the Secretary has word of it he call him (the Ambassador) in.
The Ambassador said that the situation was growing very “hot” in China. He said that the Chinese were confident: the bombing raids do more damage to civilians than otherwise. He felt that the Chinese had stopped the Japanese at Shanghai (in fact, he spoke of their having “driven them away”). In the north, however, things had not gone so well. He did not know exactly what was the strategy, but apparently the idea is in the north to lead the Japanese into the interior and draw them away from their bases of supply.
The Secretary inquired how reports get into circulation among the Chinese that this country is favoring Japan. The Ambassador replied that it was not done by Chinese officials. He suggested that the American Ambassador in China might furnish the facts to the Chinese press: he (Wang) was furnishing them to the Chinese Foreign Office. The Secretary said that there are times when it was important to get the facts before the public. The Ambassador said that this was one of the reasons why he had come to express appreciation this morning.
The Secretary inquired whether Mr. Hornbeck would care to say anything. Mr. Hornbeck said that he had been wondering when the Ambassador mentioned a report that in case the League declared Japan an aggressor the United States would have to apply the Neutrality Act,—he was wondering from what source the Ambassador had received that report. The Ambassador said that it came from the Chinese representation at Geneva. The Secretary remarked that action by the League would not make compulsory any course of action on our part. The Ambassador said that he understood that.
[Page 32]The Secretary inquired with regard to the members of the Ambassador’s family and the Ambassador gave information with regard to various members; and the conversation there ended.
- Foreign Relations, Japan, 1931–1941, vol. i, p. 504.↩
- See President Roosevelt’s proclamation of May 28, 1934; 48 Stat. 1744.↩