763.72119/3248: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan ( Morris ) to the Acting Secretary of State 4
[Received January 2—6:47 p.m.]
In a contribution to the Kokumin of January 1st, Marquis Okuma states that permanent peace cannot be achieved without first solving the question of the equality of treatment of races and the question of armaments. He asks how America proposes to treat in future the alien races in her territory, and expresses the hope that American public opinion will adopt a generous attitude toward this question. At the same time he insists that Japanese emigrants be freely allowed to enter every country. He further hopes that in order to act [secure] a permanent peace the powers will avoid severe tariff wars. In connection with the question of armaments, the Marquis asks how America’s new naval program and Great Britain’s insistence on naval supremacy can be reconciled with the declarations of these countries. He hopes that the press reports to the effect that Congress has disapproved of President Wilson’s fourteen fundamental terms are without foundation.
- Forwarded to the Commission to Negotiate Peace, Jan. 6, 1919, 3 p.m.↩