500.A41a/35: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Warren) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 14—9:54 a.m.]
347. Admiral Baron Kato, one of the delegates, during a conversation yesterday in his office in Navy Department showed me that he was charged with responsibility respecting other questions beside the limitation of armaments and that although now he was not familiar with all details of these questions he was conversant with the general outlines of them. He told me he considered the most vital question limitation of armaments but the delegates were prepared first to discuss Pacific and Far Eastern questions if so desired. He said the Japanese Government fully understood the point of view of the American Government in suggesting proposals concerning the agenda and that as the Diplomatic Advisory Council had so agreed on October 12, an instruction should now be on the way to Shidehara to inform the United States that the Japanese Foreign Office had no objection to the agenda proposed. He stated, however, that the delegates upon their arrival in Washington would ask for an explanation of specific points regarding which they desired information. They would then be better able to decide what points Japan would present for discussion and what points would not be presented. He said he presumed that I should receive this information from the Foreign Minister but he could see no objection to telling me as the Government had reached a definite decision to this effect.
I also had a long talk with Prince Tokugawa and previously had conversed at length with both delegates. I will cable a summary of these talks after the delegates leave October 15, as I might have something to add.