The Japanese Government has the honour to acknowledge the receipt of the Note Verbale under the date of the 20th instant, by which the Royal Government, in accordance with the request of the Government of Great Britain, and with the approbation of the Government of the United States of America, proposes to the Powers signatory to the Treaty of February 6, 1922, to meet at Brussels on the 30th of this month in order to examine, in conformity with Article VII of the said Treaty, the situation in the Far East and to study amicable means of hastening the end of the regrettable conflict which is taking place there.
The League of Nations, in the report adopted on the 6th of the month, has declared, on the basis of the statement of only one of the two parties, that the military operations carried on by Japan in China are in violation of the Nine Power Treaty. The action of Japan in China is one of self-defence which she has been compelled to take in the face of China's violent anti-Japanese policy and practices, exemplified particularly in her provocative acts through appealing to force of arms. Consequently, Japan's action lies
outside the purview of the Nine Power Treaty, as has been declared already by the Imperial Government.
The Assembly of the League of Nations has even gone the length of assuring China of its moral support and of recommending to its members to abstain from any action that might weaken that country's power of resistance and add to its difficulties in the present conflict, and also to study how they might individually give aid to China. This is to take no account of the just intention of the Imperial Government, which proposes to bring about sincere cooperation between Japan and China, to assure enduring peace in East Asia, and to contribute thereby to the peace of the world. This is to take sides with one of the parties and to encourage its hostile disposition, but in no way to contribute to an early settlement.
In its invitation the Royal Government makes no mention of the connection between the proposed Conference and the League of Nations. However, in view of the fact that in its Resolution the League of Nations has suggested a meeting of those of its members who are party to the Nine Power Treaty, and that the Government of the United States, which has acquiesced in the request of the Government of Great Britain for the convocation of the Conference, declared on October 6th its approval of the Resolution, the Imperial Government cannot but conclude that the convocation of the Conference is linked to the Resolution of the League of Nations. Now, as mentioned above, the League of Nations has expressed its views casting reflection upon the honour of Japan, and it has adopted a resolution which is incontestably unfriendly toward her. In these circumstances, the Imperial Government is constrained to believe that frank and full discussion to bring about a just, equitable and realistic solution of the conflict between Japan and China, cannot be expected between the Powers concerned at the proposed Conference.
Moreover, the present Sino-Japanese conflict has arisen from the special situation of East Asia and has vital bearing upon the very existence of the two countries. The Imperial Government is firmly convinced that an attempt to seek a solution at a gathering of so many Powers whose interests in East Asia vary in degree, or who have practically no interests there at all, will only serve to complicate the situation still further and to place serious obstacles in the path of a just and proper solution.
For these reasons, the Imperial Government regrets its inability to accept the invitation of the Royal Government.
The present conflict has been caused by none other than the
Chinese Government which, for these many years, has been engaged as a matter of national policy in disseminating anti-Japanese sentiment and encouraging anti-Japanese movements in China, and which, in collusion with the communist elements, has menaced the peace of East Asia through virulent agitation against Japan. Consequently, what is needed most urgently for a solution of the conflict is a realization on the part of the Chinese Government of the common responsibility of Japan and China respecting the stability of East Asia, a revision of its attitude, and a change of its policy to one of cooperation between the two countries. What Japan asks of the Powers is that they comprehend fully this need. Cooperation based upon such comprehension alone can contribute effectively toward the stabilization of East Asia.