711.94/2356
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Secretary of State
The Ambassador of China called at my request. I first referred to the armed conflicts in both the East and the West and inquired what he thought of the situation in the West. Later I showed him a map giving the position of the armies on the Russo-German front. The Ambassador did not undertake to shed any light on the Western situation, but turned to the East. He said that the morale of the Chinese was high, and that the outlook was good. I pointed out the probability of a German move into the Middle East and then I inquired of him what he thought the Japanese would do with respect thereto, apart from their conflict with China. He discounted the idea of any particular movement by Japan except in fighting China.
I said to the Ambassador that I had no particular purpose in asking him to come to see me except to say that there was really nothing new in the exploratory conversations, which have been taking place from time to time between officials of this Government and the Japanese Government, the main talks having taken place between the Japanese Ambassador and myself. I added that the situation was virtually the same as before and that this Government, of course, has had no other purpose, as has been repeatedly stated to the Ambassador and to his Government, than to discuss fully with China any pertinent questions which might arise in the possible event that we should reach the stage of negotiations. I made it clear that the chances of this latter possibility at all times have been one out of 25 or 50 or even 100. I further stated that we expected to continue to aid China until a satisfactory settlement is made. The Ambassador [Page 492] seemed pleased to have been called in for a report by me relative to our exploratory talks with Japan.
The Ambassador had nothing particularly new to tell me except to answer a few questions with respect to the battle of Changsha and the improved relationship between the Chinese Communists and the other Chinese forces. He indicated that Outer Mongolia and Tibet were about one-half Chinese while Inner Mongolia was chiefly, if not wholly, Chinese. He said he did not know much about conditions in Manchuria and that he was not at all sure that Japan contemplated an attack on Siberia at any early date.