893.0146/712
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Secretary of State
The British Ambassador called at his own request and handed me an aide-mémoire, a copy of which is attached,42 relative to the Far Eastern situation, with particular reference to the foreign armed forces at points in China.
I replied by setting forth the substance of my recent conversation with the Japanese Ambassador,43 which need not be repeated here, and added that my Government had promptly made earnest representations to the Japanese Government at every stage of its invasion of China touching any and all phases of violations of the rights and interests of this country and its nationals, and that this Government had not yielded one inch in asserting its rights or in controverting the opposing contention of the Japanese. I stated that our policy in the light of so many changing conditions had not been absolutely inflexible, and then added that there was not so much more that I could say to him except to draw attention to our policy and activities [Page 256] up to this date. I said that if anything further occurred to me, I would advise him. He concluded by saying that he understood our viewpoint and situation.
- Infra.↩
- September 15; see memorandum by the Secretary of State, Foreign Relations, Japan, 1931–1941, vol. ii, p. 15.↩