711.94/1997
Memorandum by the Secretary of State
The Ambassador of Japan called at the White House at his request. The President and I were present at the meeting.
The Ambassador proceeded to say that none of his people, with few exceptions, desired war between our two countries; that Matsuoka talks loudly for home consumption because he is ambitious politically, but Japan herself cannot maintain such ambitious plans. He said that Japan desired especially three things in the Chinese situation; the first was good will; the second was economic cooperation; and the third was Comintern defense. He then said that Japan wants raw materials from neighboring countries, and that the “New Order” which contemplates equality of economic opportunity and cooperative prosperity should be given a flexible interpretation. He continued by saying something about the increasingly disastrous situation in Europe, and added that Japan and the United States should cooperate for peace.
The President then emphasized very strongly the deep-seated effect on public opinion in this country arising from the Tripartite Agreement, and he proceeded to emphasize vigorously the dangerous effects of this agreement and the utter lack of any sound reason for Japan to enter into it from every standpoint of her welfare. The Ambassador rather lamely remarked that this country was pressing Japan with embargoes and trade restrictions, and they were in a way forced into this Tripartite arrangement. The President controverted this and again said that from every viewpoint this action was contrary to the interest of Japan; that Hitler would rule over every country if once given the opportunity, just as he is today ruling over Italy and the other countries which had trusted him. The Ambassador did not discuss this phase further.
Then the question arose regarding the threatening nature of Matsuoka’s acts and utterances, and the Ambassador said that Matsuoka’s trip to Berlin was a mere compliment to the German Government, such as is customary in the existing circumstances for countries like Japan.
The President then proceeded to set forth the sound rules and policies of international trade based on the rule of equality of treatment [Page 397] and elaborated at length with illustrations of the situation facing different countries in various parts of the world. He said that the task would be left to a few important nations like this country and Great Britain, and also Japan if she should be so disposed to reorganize international trade on a sound liberal basis, to cooperate with countries that were weak, or at a disadvantage, to enable them to enjoy all the benefits of economic progress. He said that the United States, for example, desires to aid Brazil to develop her most important lines of production to fit it into the international economic trade situation, and that this country likewise desires to cooperate with Argentina for a like purpose, especially as it relates to Argentine beef and other surplus products.
The President then … stressed the close ties existing between Thailand and Japan, adding that the former was more closely related to Japan in many ways than the Argentine was related to the United States. The President said that the suggestion had been made now and then that the United States take over the West Indies, but that the attitude of this Government unreservedly has been to see each country preserve its sovereignty, its territorial integrity and equality of opportunity, and that all the nations of the world can on the same basis come and trade with the nations of this hemisphere. The Ambassador admitted that we had been treating Central and South America extremely well, and that we had developed greatly the good neighbor relationships.
The President again returned to the Tripartite Agreement and said that it had upset the American people because they think that a concerted effort is being made by Germany and Italy to reach the Suez Canal and by Japan on the other hand to approach Singapore, the Netherlands East Indies and the Indian Ocean. The Japanese Ambassador spoke more strongly than he had in his earlier talk with me, expressing his belief that his country would not go South.
The President came back to the matter of the great work the United States has been doing for economic equality of opportunity, and said that if Great Britain wins, she must be willing for Germany to have equal access to all raw materials and equal trade opportunities. He then remarked that the United States and Japan do not produce rubber and tin and numerous other commodities produced in the British Empire, and that by international arrangements, access to each and all of these must be equal to each country alike. The President illustrated the necessity for this broader course by citing the fact that private efforts had been made to control rubber production and had failed; that control of coffee production had been attempted and had failed.
The President finally remarked that, as the Ambassador indicated, matters between our two countries could undoubtedly be worked out [Page 398] without a military clash, emphasizing that the first step in this direction would be the removal of suspicion and fear regarding Japan’s intentions. I here remarked that, of course, with Matsuoka astride the Axis on his way to Berlin and talking loudly as he goes, and Japanese naval and air forces in the vicinity of Indochina, Thailand and Saigon, with no explanation but with serious inferences, the Ambassador must realize how acute feeling and opinion in this country have become.
The Ambassador said that Japan had no idea of controlling China … The Ambassador joined with the President a number of times in expressing the view that differences between the countries could and should be worked out. The Ambassador did not, however, respond to requests for any additional methods of approach beyond the Chinese-Japanese question. He did not say so, but I inferred that he would probably be returning in due time for another conference. I made it clear that Japan, having departed from the course that both countries have been pursuing, the initiative and the responsibility are hers to suggest what, how and when, she is willing, as a preliminary step, to undertake serious discussions, and that above all she must make it clear by words and acts of her serious intentions in this direction.