793.94/13971
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Adviser on Political Relations (Hornbeck)
The Chinese Ambassador called and said that he had come to say goodbye. Mr. Hornbeck expressed regret that the Ambassador was leaving.
The Ambassador brought up—as he had brought up with Mr. Moffat and Mr. Hamilton—the subject of China’s appeal to the League under Article 17. He expressed the hope that the American Government would volunteer to the League a suggestion that the League act vigorously, with an indication that the United States would give such action support (by concurrent or parallel action). Mr. Hornbeck referred to the tremendous preoccupation of the leading powers members of the League with the European situation and to the embarrassments of those among them that are most friendly to China.
The Ambassador then suggested that the United States might ask for a reconvening of the Brussels Conference under the Nine Power Treaty. Mr. Hornbeck asked whether the Ambassador had considered the probabilities with regard to the responses that would be made by the various powers, especially the more important of them, to an inquiry or invitation toward that end; also, whether any advantage would accrue either to the cause of peace in general or to [Page 514] the cause of China in particular through the making by the American Government of such a gesture, with the probable immediate consequences thereof. The Ambassador indicated that consideration of those questions would lead to a not very optimistic conclusion.
The Ambassador then made some pleasant observations on the subject of his sojourn in Washington as Ambassador. Mr. Hornbeck inquired whether the Ambassador would go, in China, to Chungking. The Ambassador replied in the affirmative.
With exchanges of appropriate amenities the conversation was brought to a close.