793.94/16884
Dr. E. Stanley Jones to the Chief of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs (Hamilton)
Dear Mr. Hamilton: I would like to pass on one item which emerged in my talk with the Japanese Ambassador yesterday.
We went over the possible bases of peace:
- 1.
- The recognition of Manchukuo by China.
- 2.
- Suppression of Communism by China.
- 3.
- Suppression of anti-Japanese propaganda by China.
- 4.
- The recognition of the territorial and political integrity of China by Japan.
- 5.
- The joint defence of North China by China and Japan against Communism.
I pointed out that this last item cancelled out the fourth item and would spoil the whole agreement, for if it were carried through it would leave a disgruntled China, which would be a non-cooperative China.
Then I suggested this compromise: Suppose Japan should clear out all troops from all China, including North China and Mongolia according to point four. Then suppose that China should enter into agreement with Japan, that, in case she is attacked by a third party, Japan would come to her help. That would cover Japan’s contention that she needs China’s cooperation against a northern invasion and it would cover China’s contention that she is not territorially and politically free as long as Japanese troops are upon her soil.
The Japanese Ambassador said in reply that this would open a new possibility and that he personally would agree to such an arrangement. “But,” he added, “I am not sure whether Tokio would agree”.
I pass this on for what it is worth. It seems to me there is a possibility at this point.
Yours sincerely,