the neighborhood of the railway lines. Further advance on the part of the Japanese into the interior of China will certainly be beset with greater difficulties which will operate in our favor. I am convinced, therefore, that the ultimate victory belongs to China. Question. What are Your Excellency's views on the prospect of the Brussels Conference? Answer. I am fairly convinced that the forces of righteousness and justice, once set in motion, will not fail to achieve the desired goals. I believe the Conference will accomplish worthy results. China's determination to continue her resistance to the aggressor remains unchanged until the validity of international treaties is restored and international justice firmly reestablished. Question. Since the opening of the Brussels Conference reports have been circulating that mediatory efforts are being made outside the Conference. What is the truth of these reports? Answer. They are absolutely groundless; the position of China has from the very outset been based upon unswerving adherence to the Nine Power Treaty and other international treaties. She is cooperating wholeheartedly in the collective effort now being made to compose the Far Eastern situation, and reports of her alleged independent action are obviously conceived in malice. China is most jealous of the honor of her world [position?]. She certainly will not take any steps contrary to her consistent stand." 2. Sent Department, repeated Peiping, airmailed Tokyo. JOHNSON 793.94 Conference/207: Telegram The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State TOKYO, November 8, 1937-noon. [Received November 8-12:57 a. m.] 527. 1. The renewed invitation to Japan to participate in the Nine Power Conference was delivered to the Minister for Foreign Affairs by the Belgian Ambassador at 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon. As it was Sunday and no interpreter present the Ambassador was obliged to read to the Minister an impromptu summarized translation in English of the French note. Hirota replied that he would have to consult his colleagues but would give an answer at the earliest possible moment. He said he could not be optimistic that a favorable reply would be returned. 2. My Belgian colleague believes that in declining the invitation the Japanese Government will take the position that by inviting non-signatories of the Nine Power Treaty to participate, the Conference has violated article 7 of the Treaty and that Japan sees no reason to enter into "full and frank communication" with non-contracting parties. Repeated to Nanking. GREW 793.94 Conference/212: Telegram The Ambassador in France (Bullitt) to the Secretary of State PARIS, November 8, 1937-9 p. m. [Received November 8-4:41 p. m.] 1576. For the Acting Secretary. My 1570, November 6, 4 p. m. Delbos telephoned to me this afternoon to say that he hoped the American delegation in Brussels would cease to propose the formation of committees or subcommittees on which France would not be represented. He went on to say that when he had called on me 2 days ago he had attempted to impress upon me the fact that the French Government would insist on being represented on any committee whatsoever which might be formed to deal with the situation in the Far East and he hoped that I had transmitted this information to my Government and to Davis. I replied that I had. He said that he could see no good reason why Davis should continue to propose that a committee should be formed on which France should not be represented and he hoped that Davis would receive instructions not to attempt to exclude France from any further committees. I repeated all the foregoing to Davis by telephone. In reply Davis asked me to telephone Delbos to request him to come to Brussels tomorrow. I did so. Delbos will reach Brussels tomorrow evening. BULLITT 793.94 Conference/201: Telegram The Acting Secretary of State to the Chairman of the American Delegation (Davis) WASHINGTON, November 8, 1937-11 p. m. 49. Your 23, November 7, 10 p. m. Supplementing conversation between yourself and Wilson, I think it advisable that the Conference should set up a Committee. This would serve to keep a community of purpose among the Nine Power signatories and to keep before the public the obligations and principles of the Nine Power Treaty. I had felt it preferable that a negotiating or standing committee, although decreed by the Conference, should not be set up as to membership until the Conference should have had a reasonable opportunity to have received a reply from Japan. However, in view of the explanation you made Wilson, the question of the expediency of setting up the committee is left to your discretion. It seems to me that a small committee would be preferable, both for convenience and because it could represent the most immediately interested powers. We recognize, nevertheless, the difficulties of this matter of membership and while we feel that the United States, Great Britain and France together with perhaps Holland and Belgium might make an acceptable committee, we are somewhat apprehensive of Italian membership both for its effect on public opinion and for practical results. In the event that the United States, Great Britain, France, Belgium and The Netherlands are on the committee, the choice might be justified as representing the original signatories with principal interests in the Far East plus Belgium, the host of the Conference. In this respect, as in other matters, we trust to your discretion since you on the spot are better able to appreciate the difficulties and possibilities of any given course. In general, we feel that the United States should not take the leading role in supporting or opposing the various states for membership on the committee. When the negotiating committee is set up, it will presumably receive terms of reference from the Conference. We think these terms of reference are important. The negotiating committee should have as broad a mandate as possible while working within the principles and provisions of the Nine Power Treaty. WELLES 793.94 Conference/213: Telegram The Ambassador in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State 77a NANKING, November 9, 1937-10 a. m. [Received November 9-9:15 a. m.] 901. My 883, November 3, 1 p. m.78 The same sources have now given me the proposals drawn up in a form which they consider suitable for presentation to the Brussels Conference. They expressed the hope that presentation might be by the American delegation but I believe that the proposals have served their best purpose in being submitted for the study of the Chinese Government and I shall not telegraph full text unless the Department so instructs. Informants state that since October 30 the Chinese Government has telegraphed to its delegation instructions somewhat resembling their program. After studying proposals Donald " wrote to informants expressing his personal opinion that they might be acceptable to China as maximum concession to Japan but that China could not discuss any peace terms until Japan had been given further demonstration that Japan 77a Repeated to Mr. Norman H. Davis in telegram No. 51, November 9, 7 p. m., with the added statement, "Department is not requesting full text of proposals." 78 Ante, p. 149. " W. H. Donald, Australian adviser to Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek. cannot threaten, insult and invade China with impunity and Donald added that China is by no means defeated, and to avoid giving wrong impression informants should take extreme care to make it clear to any person who might see them that the proposals are not known to or advanced by the Chinese Government. In view of the close association of Donald with General Chiang and his wife his views are of considerable significance. Sent to the Department, Peiping, Tokyo. JOHNSON 793.94 Conference/212: Telegram The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in France (Bullitt) 80 WASHINGTON, November 9, 1937-5 p. m. 568. Your 1575, November 8, 8 p. m.,81 and 1576, November 8, 9 p.m. The President saw Jules Henry 82 when he called at the White House last Saturday to present Jacques Stern. The President referred during the brief conversation they had to the action taken by the French Government in refusing to permit shipment of munitions to China through French Indo-China and remarked that he thought some of the great powers with territorial interests in the Far East were behaving "like scared rabbits". The remark was then made to the President that in view of the Mediterranean situation, France could not take measures which could be taken in normal times, any more than could Great Britain, to defend their territorial possessions in the Far East from possible aggression and inquiry was made as to what the attitude of the United States might be in the event that such aggression transpired. The President made it very clear that this was a hypothetical question; that he regarded it as such a remote contingency that it should not even be discussed at the present time. The President then added that if such acts of aggression were committed, the repercussions thereof would be of such worldwide character that obviously the United States could not remain unaffected by such repercussions. The President made no statement other than those set forth above and gave no impression directly or indirectly as to the possible extension of the protection of the American fleet. I have spoken to the President with regard to this question and this telegram is sent you with his authorization. I have attempted to see Jules Henry this morning in order to request that he make the necessary clarification as above indicated. I find, however, that he is in New York, but I have sent word to him that I wish to see him and I shall endeavor to do so tonight upon his return. You may, of course, make our position clear in the above sense in your conversations tomorrow with the Prime Minister.83 Please telegraph me the result of your conversations. WELLES 793.94 Conference/216: Telegram The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Bingham) to the Secretary of State LONDON, November 10, 1937-11 a. m. [Received November 10-10: 24 a. m.] 705. Following is that portion of the Prime Minister's Guildhall speech which refers to the United States: We "In our view an essential factor for success in any endeavor to bring about a settlement is the cooperation of the United States whose influence and interests in the Far East are so considerable. rejoice therefore that in the admirable exposition of the objects of the Conference which he gave in his opening speech Mr. Norman Davis made it clear that all the participating governments are assured of the constructive cooperation of the United States Government. His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom for their part are prepared as the Foreign Secretary declared on the same occasion to offer the very fullest collaboration to promote the success of the Conference. The prolongation of this unhappy conflict with all the misery and suffering which it involves can only result in increasing damage to each of the two great nations concerned and we who have a long tradition of friendly relations with both of them will anxiously await the day when their differences shall be composed and they can once again turn their attention to the development of their resources and the welfare of their respective peoples. I have spoken of the pleasure with which His Majesty's Government received the news of the readiness of the Government of the United States of America to cooperate in the Brussels Conference. We regard that action as a first and most valuable step toward the fulfillment of the desire expressed by President Roosevelt at Chicago for a concerted effort by peace loving nations for the sanctity of treaties and the settlement of differences by peaceful means. We are convinced that a closer understanding and a more complete community of purpose between our two nations may do much to assist the cause for which the President has pleaded and which is also nearest to our hearts. We are now engaged in informal discussions with a view to the eventual conclusion of an Anglo-American trade agreement and I earnestly wish that in spite of all the difficulties to be surmounted we may succeed in arriving at an accord which might well bring 83 Camille Chautemps. |