893.811/1060
Memorandum by the Ambassador in Japan (Grew)
My initial interview today with the new Minister for Foreign Affairs was on his part of a negative and therefore of an unsatisfactory character. After the amenities as between two old friends I referred to the assurances expressed to me by Mr. Arita’s three predecessors in turn to the effect that the foreign policy of the Japanese Government would undergo no change during their respective administrations and that American rights and interests in China would be respected and the open door and equal opportunity supported. I then inquired whether the new Minister would renew those assurances.
Mr. Arita replied that when he was formerly Foreign Minister the attitude of the Japanese people towards the United States was particularly friendly and that it is still friendly today, but that in the meantime the attitude of the United States towards Japan has considerably altered due to things that have occurred in China. He supposed that by reading recent comments in the Japanese press I must have gleaned some comprehension of the present attitude of the Japanese people in that connection. The Minister said that in estimating opinion in his own country he must proceed slowly and “with great prudence”.
The Minister then referred to our note of October 6 which he said he understood conveyed the attitude of the American Government [Page 793] towards the situation in China but added that he had not yet had time to read it. I urged him to do so forthwith because without familiarity with the contents of that note he could not appreciate the nature and extent of the difficulties between our two countries.
At this point the Minister referred to the public address of the Prime Minister on November 3 as an indication of Japanese policy.25 I immediately replied that we had carefully studied that address but that portions of it required interpretation and I asked specifically whether he was in a position to interpret the following excerpt:
“Japan does not reject cooperation with other Powers, neither intends to damage the interests of third Powers. If such nations understand the true intention of Japan and adopt policies suitable for the new conditions, Japan does not hesitate to cooperate with them for the sake of peace in the Orient.”
I asked what policies “suitable for the new conditions” the Prime Minister had in mind. Mr. Arita replied that he thought it important that we should have a long talk concerning all these matters and that he would be better prepared for such a talk after he had been a little longer in office. He repeated the view that he must proceed slowly and that the situation is “very difficult”. I asked whether he would see me as soon as he returns from reporting at the national shrine at Ise whither he proceeds tonight. The Minister replied that he needed a little more time but hoped that we could have the talk some time next week.
On my stating that these matters are urgent and that they are so regarded by my Government, Mr. Arita counseled patience and added that if we should press for an immediate reply to our note of October 6 he was afraid that the Japanese reply would not be satisfactory. He repeated and emphasized the word “patience”.
I thereupon informed the Minister that I must bring specifically and urgently to his attention one phase of the situation dealt with in our note of October 6, namely the question of free navigation on the Yangtze River between Shanghai and Hankow and after vigorous oral representations along the lines of the Department’s 373, November 2, 2 [4] p.m., I left with him my note number 1111 of today’s date.26 I told the Minister that my Government would not be satisfied with an indefinite reply and I pressed him for a favorable answer including the naming of an early date for the withdrawal of restrictions on freedom of navigation on the Yangtze River below Hankow. The Minister was non-committal.
The interview thereupon terminated.