Memorandum on a Conversation with Arthur J. Balfour

Title

Memorandum on a Conversation with Arthur J. Balfour

Creator

Unknown

Date

No date

Source

Robert and Sally Huxley

Publisher

Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museusm

Language

English

Text

Memorandum.

For conversation with Mr. Balfour.

Arthur J. Balfour
Suggestions.

1. The proposal that Japan be asked to make a declaration emanated from President Wilson. Before the German treaty was signed President Wilson direected Mr. Lansing to take the matter up with Baron Makino. President Wilson wished not alone a declaration, but a declaration which should contain substance such as is embodied in pioints 2 and 4 of the draft proposals.The proposals did not emanated from the Chinese and were not suffteggested by them.

2. The American Delegation has never considered satisfactory the disposal of the Shantung question which was made in the treaty. Three of the American Commissioners expressly and specifically opposed it. President Wilson's acceptance of it was a concession to Great Britiaain and France -- in order to enable them to keep their pledges -- and to Japan; and it was made at the expense of the United States and China. This settlement has proved highly displeasing to the American people and is causing Pres. Wilson much embarrassment, adding greatly to the difficulty of his task in securing approbval of the treaty.Inasmuch as Pres. Wislon himself asks for a declaration by Japan, do not Great Britiaain and France owe it to the American Delaegation either to say frankly that they do not consider the suggestion sound and will not support it or to act as has been requested, i.e. to goive advice to the Japanese similar to that hwwhich Mr. Lansing gave?

3. Cannot Mr. Balfour undertake to speak to Baron Makino before, say, Tuesday evening, and to let the American Delegation know what advice he has given and what has been the nature of Braron Makino's reply?

4. The American Delegation does not consider that the mere publication of the assurances given to the Council would be satisfactory. If these assurances were published in just the form in which they were made, it is a question whetehher they would not provoke new criticism. The American Delegation seeks something which will give substance to the Japanese statement that Japan “intends to restore Shantung to China”.

Original Format

Letter

Files

http://resources.presidentwilson.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/D60025.pdf

Citation

Unknown, “Memorandum on a Conversation with Arthur J. Balfour,” No date, R. Emmet Condon Collection, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.