793.94 Conference/362
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Secretary of State
The Chinese Ambassador called on his own request. He said that his Government had instructed him to inquire what the attitude of this Government would be with respect to functioning in the event there should be a reconvening of the Nine-Power Treaty signatories. I replied that that question should really answer itself; with respect to a duly called meeting of the signatories of the Nine-Power Treaty, that this Government would, of course, promptly accept and attend such meeting; that this was logically its situation as a signatory and as a member of the Brussels Conference. I added that we would likewise continue to function in connection with any duly called meetings of the Advisory Committee,76 if I might further illustrate the situation of this Government. I then said that in my opinion there was an important preliminary question about which we have heard no expression from those who may be suggesting a reconvening of the Nine-Power signatories, and that question was whether there had been made any attempt whatsoever to forecast the opportunities for substantial accomplishment by such meeting of the Nine-Power Treaty signatories. I said that a meeting called haphazardly, without any preliminary preparations or plans to reasonably insure at least its substantial success in behalf of peace, would probably be doomed to failure and this would simply give a black eye to peace and to the Ambassador’s country and my own; that I mentioned my own for the reason that whenever any meeting or conference is in prospect, one or more important governments, or those assuming to speak for them, immediately begin to circulate reports and rumors which get into the press that they will go as far as the United States, that they will first call upon the United States to know if it will do such and such, as in case of the despatch this morning that three governments are calling upon the United States to join them in furnishing arms, ammunition and implements of war to China, although they [Page 58] fully know our situation and should know that such questions and statements are more harmful than helpful. I concluded by suggesting to the Ambassador, in addition to my answer to his inquiry, that I would like finally to emphasize again the question of whether those at Geneva who convened as the members of the Council, having seemingly failed to do anything themselves, are merely seeking to shift the situation to another meeting of the Nine-Power Treaty signatories without any thought or preparation, as stated. I said that I was not making this observation from the standpoint of either encouraging or discouraging a meeting of the Nine-Power Treaty signatories, but for the reason that ought to be manifest to every practical statesman having anything to do with the matter.