MINUTE SHEET.
Reference.
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V
CCA
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(814) 51%7/W
2.2OO.00O 1/37 JC&SUd
Cp6447229
REQlMlNT)
CODE 5-J4JX
The attached aide-memoire was handed to me by
Dr. Hornbeck today*    In giving me the document he made
certain remarks which are summarised in the attached draft
to the F«0«      As regards Dr. Hornbeck*s first point -
secrecy - I told him that I felt sure that the State
Dept. need have no anxiety on this score.   We for our part
were equally anxious that the contents of our communication
to the State. Dept. should be kept secret and it was
obviously in everyone's interest that the Japanese should
have no knowledge of these communications*
After/
[QVEH
After giving^the note, Dr. Hornbeck said that he
thought he ought to call our attention to the fact that
during the last few days the State Dept. had received a
report from their people in China that the British and
French marines had been withdrawn from Araoy. Hitherto,
Dr. Hornbeck said, there had been an understanding between
us and the Americans that neither of us should alter the
dispositions of our forces in China without giving previous
warning to the other.     Up till now, this understanding had
been faithfully observed by both sides but in this case
no previous warning had been given   to the Americans of our
intention to move these marines from Amoy.     Dr. Hornbeck
went on to say that he quite appreciated that our action had
no doubt had to be taken in a great hurry on account of
European developments and he was not making any complaint*
He did, however, wish to call our attention to the matter
since he thought it highly   desirable that the undertaking
should continue to be observed in the future.
I told Dr. Hornbeck that we had no information on
this particular matter but that .1 felt sure that our failure
to give any previous warning to the U.S. authorities was
due solely to the fact that the move had to be carried out
on short notice owing to the war.
It might perhaps be'worthwhile letting the P.O.
know by bag of Dr. Hornbeck*s remarks as he seemed to attach
importance to the matter.