704.9394/2
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Secretary of State
The Chinese Ambassador called at his own request. He referred to his conversation of some three weeks ago49 with Mr. Hugh Wilson50 in regard to the matter of this Government taking over the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo and representing China’s interests there after the contemplated departure within another day or two of the Chinese Ambassador from Tokyo.
I requested the Ambassador to state just what his proposal was, although I had talked the matter over somewhat with Mr. Wilson several days ago. The Ambassador replied that in the event of the contemplated departure of the Chinese Ambassador from Tokyo this week he would like to renew his request, made to Mr. Hugh Wilson, that this Government take charge of China’s interests there. He then added that Mr. Wilson brought up a question to the effect that if Japan should organize a puppet government in North China and should authorize representatives of that puppet government to take charge of the Chinese Embassy and its properties and files at Tokyo, the Government of the United States might have an embarrassing [Page 33] situation presented to it with respect to whether it would or would not surrender its possession of the Chinese interests and properties, I referred more in detail to this situation and emphasized the view that since the Japanese are apparently in the act of establishing a puppet government in North China, if they have not already done so, the question of turning over possession of the Chinese Embassy and its properties at Tokyo might be brought up right away. I then inquired of the Ambassador what he would do in those circumstances if he were in our place. He was a little reserved but expressed the view that he knew we would not like to turn over properties to such puppet government agencies. I explained that that was not conclusive, however, of the question presented. He had no further comment, except that they would be desirous of calling on us to take charge of China’s interests at Tokyo. I said to him that naturally this Government is always desirous of rendering any reasonable and practical service to his Government; that it would be necessary, in my opinion, for me to investigate this question which might possibly arise, and I would undertake to do so and notify him of any new or further impressions I might have as soon as was practicable.
- See memorandum of December 13, 1937, Foreign Relations, 1937, vol. iii, p. 803.↩
- Then Assistant Secretary of State.↩