700.0011 Pacific/22
Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs (Hornbeck)
The Chinese Ambassador called on me by appointment. He referred to mention which he had made in his conversation with the Secretary on June 11 of China’s interest in the possibility of a non-aggression pact for the Pacific. He has been informed from London that the Imperial Conference passed a resolution directed toward the formulating by the British Government of some proposal. The Chinese Ambassador in London has promised to send him details, but the intended communication has not yet reached Washington. The Chinese Government believes the idea sound. They are not overlooking the fact that a number of treaties directed toward maintenance of peace are in existence and that these treaties have been shown all too little respect, but they believe in the value of reiteration and of new pledges. They believe that the Japanese Government might be [Page 989] receptive toward the idea. The Japanese Government is “riding a tiger” and is looking for some way to dismount. The Ambassador considers significant the fact of Prince Konoye’s having accepted the premiership: for several years Prince Saionji19 consistently advised Konoye not to accept a position of responsibility until the time was ripe; it may be assumed that both Saionji and Konoye felt, at the moment when Konoye accepted the premiership, that there was a fair chance of Konoye’s having a successful administration. Konoye’s views that Japan and China should be friends rather than enemies are well known. The making of a non-aggression pact might give the Japanese Government the opportunity which it seeks to retreat from an embarrassing position and to make up with China. The Ambassador therefore wished to know in confidence what is the attitude and position of the Secretary of State with regard to Premier Lyons’ proposal.
I said in reply that what the Ambassador had said with regard to the Chinese Government’s views and his own view on the subject of the possibilities of a non-aggression pact interested me greatly. With regard to his inquiry, I could only say that the same inquiry has been made repeatedly by interested Americans, especially the press correspondents, and that the Secretary of State has declined to make any statement indicative of an attitude or position on his part favorable or unfavorable in relation to the Lyons suggestion; the attitude of this Government on the subject of peace and on the subject of political and economic stabilizations is well known; but the Lyons proposal is one which was made in and to the British Imperial Conference, one which British Empire representatives have been considering, one which Mr. Lyons has been discussing informally with diplomats of other countries, and one with regard to which this Government has not been officially approached. Therefore, if reporting to his Government, the Ambassador should go no further than to say that this Government has taken no position with regard to the matter.
The Ambassador said that he thought it would be very helpful if the American Government would declare itself favorably disposed. I said that there could be two sides to that question: the British Government has the matter in hand; the British Government and the Japanese Government are discussing various problems and possibilities; there might be advantage in letting those two Governments alone until they have come to their own conclusions without any volunteering by the American Government of views on the subject. I repeated that the American Government has not adopted an attitude or position with regard to the matter.
[Page 990]Comment.
There may be something to the view advanced by the Chinese Ambassador that Prince Konoye’s acceptance of the premiership in Japan indicates the arrival (or approach) of a state of mind in Japan which might make the Japanese Government receptive to a proposal that a non-aggression pact be considered. However, it does not follow that as a matter of strategy or tactics a move or a declaration of attitude on the part of the American Government in support of the Lyons proposal would be helpful. The British Imperial Conference has left the matter in the hands of the British Government; British statesmen have been talking with Japanese statesmen; they have informed us and have informed the Chinese that they will keep us both posted. It may be assumed that the British Government is sounding out the Japanese Government and that, in so doing, the British Government will find out whether or not the atmosphere in Tokyo is receptive. As stated in a previous memorandum, FE is of the opinion that this proposal will go further and go faster if at this stage we leave the matter in the hands of the British Government (that Government being already in process of conversation with the Japanese) than if we intrude into the situation (at this stage) in any way. It therefore is believed that continued avoidance of any expression of opinion with regard to the proposal is warranted and advisable.
- Prince Kimmochi Saionji, former Japanese Prime Minister and surviving Genro (Elder Statesman).↩