File No. 763/72/5569
The Chargé in Japan ( Wheeler ) to the Secretary of State
[Received 11.25 p.m.]
Premier and Minister for Foreign Affairs yesterday addressing the Diet, just opened in special session, expressed profound gratification the entrance into war of the United States, which Viscount Motono called “An event without precedent in the annals of history”; referring to the close collaboration of the two nations against the common enemy as “tending, in a marked manner, to make our cordial relations more close and to unite our efforts with the greatest sincerity.” In reply to a question whether any pledge had been secured looking to retention by Japan of Tsingtao and the islands taken from Germany, he stated that the Japanese Government has taken properly effective measures to protect Japan’s rights and interests in Shantung and the Southern Islands and concluded: “Am very confident that upon restoration of peace the Allied powers will not object to such arrangements as Japan will deem necessary in order to ensure peace in the Orient.” Interpellated with reference to the recent American note to China,2 he said that when Ambassador Sato on June 15, handed the Japanese memorandum3 to the Secretary of State “the latter stated that inasmuch as the Governments of Japan, Great Britain, and France deemed it unnecessary to warn China he was in full accord with the view therein expressed.” When interpellated in the same connection as to the giving out by an official of the Foreign Office of statements calculated to disturb the good feeling existing between Japan and the United States (see my telegram of June 1, 11 p.m.4) Viscount Motono declined to reply.