FOREIGN RELATIONS, 1934, VOLUME III



which were arrived at at the Washington Conference. Without this
agreement and the settlements which attended it at the Conference,
it is unlikely that there could have been any agreement in regard to
reduction of naval armaments, the goal which every one desired. To
my mind, it therefore follows that a violation of the Nine-Power
Treaty is a violation of all the agreements, or, to put it another way:
if the Nine-Power Treaty, which was a settlement of present and
future relations among the powers in matters respecting China, is
to be abandoned or revised, then such abandonment or such revision
must be considered in connection with abandonment or revision of the
naval treaty. The two things should be considered together. It is
important to the United States that they be considered together, for
we consented to a reduction of our navy and to an abandonment of our
recognized right to build and maintain strong naval bases in the
Philippines only after we had obtained agreement among the powers
,regarding the open door in China and the abandonment of the Anglo-
Japanese alliance.
  It has always been my conviction that under the above circumstances
we could not have done otherwise than to refuse to recognize the results
which Japan attained by violation of the Nine-Power Treaty. Our
position in this matter was necessary if for no other purpose than to
maintain our record clear until the time comes for a new conference,
either in 1936, or, if there is to be another conflict in Asia, at the end
of that conflict, when all of these questions will have to be thrashed
out once more and we can go into that conference with our position
well known to every one.
  For these reasons I am of the opinion that no change has occurred
in the situation in Manchuria which would warrant our giving up our
position and according recognition to the "Manchukuo" Government.
  Respectfully yours,                   NELSON TRUSLER JOHNSON


761.94/770: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Bullitt) to the Secretary
                             of State

                                 Moscow, August 24, 1934-3 p. m.
                                 [Received August 24-10: 40 a. m.]
  269. Tass has issued text of protest by Soviet Ambassador in Tokyo
to Hirota under date of August 22.
  Note refers to recent arrest of Soviet employees of Chinese Eastern
Railway and complains that the Eastern line has been deprived of its
"leading staff" and operators hampered; that absurd accusations
have
been invented of organized attacks on Japanese military missions by



260