793.94119/751
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Secretary of State
The Chinese Ambassador80 called at my request in response to a previously indicated desire on his part to discuss with me the exchange of notes between his Government and mine, as recently proposed by the newly appointed Foreign Minister of China, Dr. Quo Tai-chi.81 After [Page 209] some discussion, it was agreed that this exchange of notes might take place; also that when the new Foreign Minister returns to China and is sworn into office, it would be appropriate for him then to make public these two documents.
There followed a general exchange of information about the world situation. In due course we each made reference to the periodical appearance of rumors and reports in regard to peace negotiations between Japan and China. I remarked that there have been and are in circulation numerous rumors and reports on this general subject; that some come through important Japanese business men, others through former high naval officers of the United States who have talked at length with Ambassador Nomura, and still other reports through someone here and there, including some newspapermen. I said that I am not thus far treating these reports seriously; that, in any event, before reaching such a step as negotiations, I would, of course, first have full and exhaustive conferences with the Chinese Government, or its representatives. I then added that I had made a remark somewhat similar about these peace reports and rumors to the British Ambassador a few days ago.
I remarked that there seemed to be a group in Japan, consisting of some of the highest officials in the Government, opposed to going into the World War, and that some persons had expressed the view that there might be one chance in ten or twenty-five that something might come out of these reports.
I said that recently the war situation in Europe has been getting worse; that I have at all times treated the Far Eastern and the European war situations as one combined movement, so far as defense is concerned, and that, we, of course, are standing absolutely firm on all of our basic policies and principles in both the West and the East. I added that if the Western situation steadily becomes more dangerous, I could not be certain as to whether a large segment of our Navy still remaining at Hawaii might be sent to the Atlantic, and hence the question of peace rumors and peace reports naturally arose frequently even though they have not reached a stage where a step in negotiations would be undertaken. The Ambassador discounted any possibilities that might grow out of such peace reports, but added that in the light of the increasing dangers in the world situation, he would give the matter thought. I again said to him that he must consider that I was not treating them seriously, certainly without first having full consultation with him and his associates in the Government. He expressed his appreciation.
- Hu Shih.↩
- For notes dated May 26 and 31, see Foreign Relations, Japan, 1931–1941, vol. i, pp. 927 and 929.↩