740.0011 European War 1939/14626
Memorandum by the Ambassador in Japan (Grew)
During my interview with the Foreign Minister today I read to Mr. Matsuoka the following:55
“According to reports emanating from Tokyo, Japan is uncertain of and misunderstands American policy with respect to the recent hostilities between the Soviet Union and Germany. For example, the press quoted the War Minister as stating on June 24 that as American future policy could not be predicted, Japan was at the crossroads. The Yomiuri reportedly feared that the United States and Great Britain contemplated using Russian territory for military purposes, thereby menacing Japan; the same journal saw unfriendliness toward Japan in American gestures toward Russia, and the Hochi believed such friendliness implied military threats against Japan.
“The attitude of the Government of the United States regarding the war in Europe has been clearly stated many times; its purpose is to protect the security of the nation and of the Western Hemisphere; the Nazi armies are considered as being the chief threat to that security; accordingly the United States has adopted the policy of aiding Great Britain and any other nation in opposition to those armies, and will welcome any further such opposition. Therefore, any steps which the American Government may consider in aid of Russia will have as its sole aim the defense of American security, and will in no manner threaten the security of nations which have not joined the conflict on Hitler’s side.”
- Statement made by direction of the Secretary of State.↩