711.94/970b
The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Japan (Grew)
Sir: Reference is made to the Department’s telegram No. 100 of June 15, 7 p.m.,6 by which you were informed that on May 16, 1934, the Japanese Ambassador handed the Secretary a secret and confidential memorandum7 in which it was proposed that the American and Japanese Governments issue a joint declaration of policy.
On May 16, Mr. Saito, who had sometime previously expressed a desire to discuss in the strictest confidence relations between the United States and Japan, called on the Secretary by appointment. He presented a memorandum, the opening sentence of which stated that the statements thereafter following “are entirely my (Mr. Saito’s) private thoughts”. In that memorandum the opinion was expressed that the relations between the United States and Japan are marked by an excess of mutual suspicion and fear: that it is suspected in the United States that Japan has aggressive designs on the Asiatic Continent, whereas it is suspected in Japan that the United States has constantly endeavored to obstruct Japan from working out its national aims and that the United States has encouraged China to take a defiant attitude against Japan. It was suggested that the United States and Japan repose full confidence in the sincerity of the peaceful motives of each other, and that a joint declaration be made by the American and Japanese Governments proclaiming their intention to support the principle of equality of commercial opportunities in the Pacific regions, reaffirming their pacific intention toward each other, and, recognizing that the “United States in the eastern Pacific regions and Japan in the western Pacific regions are principal stabilizing factors”, declaring their intention to use their best efforts to “establish a reign of law and order in the regions geographically adjacent to their respective countries”.
The Secretary agreed to confer further with Mr. Saito after he had had an opportunity to examine the memorandum. The Secretary took occasion, however, to dwell at considerable length upon the changes that had occurred in recent years in the relations between states. He observed that the United States is exerting every effort to abandon as rapidly as possible any practice, policy, or utterance that might be reasonably calculated to give just or reasonable grounds of complaint to any other people or country; and that the American Government and American people feel that human progress and civilization call for just such reforms.
On May 29, Mr. Saito called, upon the Secretary’s invitation. The Secretary proceeded to consider seriatim the several points raised [Page 238] in the memorandum which Mr. Saito had presented at the meeting on May 16. The Secretary ventured the opinion that American suspicions with regard to Japan’s motives arise from observation in this country of Japan’s courses of action, and that these suspicions are not peculiar to the United States: they coincide with those which also have developed elsewhere. The Secretary could not perceive, however, that any basis in fact existed for Japanese suspicion with regard to American motives. Referring to Mr. Saito’s statement that the United States and Japan should repose full confidence in the sincerity of the peaceful motives of each other, he remarked that Japan and the United States can best convince each other that their motives are peaceful by making both their words and their courses of action those of peace.
Adverting to the suggestion that there be made by the American and Japanese Governments a joint declaration of policy, he pointed out to Mr. Saito that the conclusion between any two countries of a special agreement on political lines tends to create in fact or in appearance a special situation meaning or implying that the relations between the two are closer than are those between each of them and other countries; that he could not believe that the making of such a joint declaration as that proposed by Mr. Saito, if it were possible, would, when it had been made, have the effects which he proposed; that the American people have always been adversely disposed toward the theory and the practice of political alliances; and that for the regulation of relations between Japan and the United States, there are already in effect today a number of agreements.
Mr. Saito was reminded that Mr. Hirota and the Secretary had recently exchanged messages,8 in which each of them declared emphatically and unequivocally that his country has no aggressive designs. The Secretary expressed the belief that he could not express more unequivocally than he had done in his note to Mr. Hirota, the fact that the United States has no thought of aggression against Japan or against any other country.
The Ambassador expressed some disappointment. The Secretary stated to Mr. Saito that the American Government will continue to give, as it has given in the past, earnest thought to ways and means calculated to dispel suspicion by the Japanese people of American motives and action in the Far East; but that that full measure of mutual respect and confidence which it is the endeavor of the people and Government of the United States to make prevail in their relations with other peoples and Governments must, in our opinion, rest upon approximate similarity of objective and of method.
[Page 239]Subsequently, in connection with Mr. Saito’s preparations to return on leave to Japan, he expressed a desire that he be afforded an opportunity to take leave of the President. Arrangements were accordingly made for Mr. Saito to be received on June 13th by the President. The President asked that the Secretary be present; and he was present. Mr. Saito did not, however, raise any question of policy.
Very truly yours,