893.51/2859
The Japanese Embassy to the Department of State
Aide-Memoire
In continuation of the subject of the information desired by the Chinese Government respecting the Consortium, it is learned that the American Minister at Peking now proposes to communicate to the Chinese Government the contents of the Kajiwara–Lamont correspondence, with an explanatory note stating that the Banking Groups of the Four Powers have joined the Consortium without any conditions That wording of the proposed note seems to the Japanese Government to be incomplete and misleading. If any note should be addressed to the Chinese Government in explanation of the Kajiwara–Lamont correspondence, the Japanese Government feel it important that the wording above quoted be so modified as to contain some reference to the understanding reached among the Powers interested for non-interference with Japan’s national defence or economic existence,—an understanding upon which the Japanese Government relied in withdrawing their proposed formula of reservations respecting South Manchuria and Eastern Inner Mongolia.
Having regard to the results of the repeated conferences which have recently been held among the Diplomatic Representatives at Peking, the Japanese Government are now prepared to accept either of the following two alternatives for the adjustment of the question.
- 1.
- To withhold notification to the Chinese Government of the Kajiwara–Lamont correspondence, until a more opportune moment arrives, (in the same sense as the British Government are understood to have recently instructed their representative at Peking); or
- 2.
- To communicate the correspondence, as confidential information, to the Chinese Government, with an explanatory note embodying amendments along the line above indicated.