793.94/8218: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Japan ( Dickover )
128. (1) At the earliest opportunity Ballantine13 should call upon the Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, and after alluding to previous conversations he should read to the Vice Minister, as under instruction, a close paraphrase of the following statement:
“This Government is gratified to have received, through the Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, direct information from the Japanese Government relating to a situation which from the beginning has held the attentive interest of the United States. The sensational and alarming reports which have appeared in the press have been observed with natural concern by this Government. The initiative taken by the Japanese Government in communicating to this Government information tending to a better understanding of relations between Japan and China is, therefore, sincerely appreciated. It is also a source of special satisfaction to the American Government to have received from the Japanese Government an assurance of its desire that a solution of the issues between Japan and China shall be achieved by diplomacy. All developments in the situation will be followed by this Government with solicitude. It would be most helpful, therefore, if from time to time, and as circumstances may dictate, the Japanese Government would continue to acquaint this Government with information which would contribute to a better understanding of the situation.”
(2) The above statement should be regarded as oral, and a copy should not, therefore, be left with the Vice Minister.
- Joseph W. Ballantine, First Secretary of Embassy in Japan.↩