711.94/23448/25
Memorandum of a Conversation
The Japanese Ambassador called at his request at the Secretary’s apartment.7 He said that he had been instructed by his Government to express the hope that the President in his forthcoming speech would not touch upon Japanese-American relations in a way that might give ammunition for pro-Axis elements in Japan to conduct agitation likely to embarrass the Government. The Ambassador said that the Japanese Government of course recognized that this was a matter which lay entirely within the discretion of the American Government, but that incidents like the Greer incident were arousing feeling among the pro-Axis elements in Japan. The Secretary replied that he could not undertake to say what the contents of the President’s forthcoming speech were and that the only answer he could give was that the President’s speech was already prepared. The Secretary added that he understood that the Japanese Ambassador’s suggestion was along the lines of a point which had frequently come up in their conversations in regard to the desirability of avoiding anything that might exacerbate Japanese-American relations.
The Ambassador then inquired what the Secretary’s reaction was to the Japanese Government’s proposals of September 6. The Secretary commented that it seemed to us that whereas our previous conversations had related to a broad and liberal understanding covering the entire Pacific area, the present proposals had narrowed [Page 614] down the spirit and the scope of the proposed understanding. The Secretary also observed that, in regard to the matter of the Tripartite Pact, as this was a military alliance and as Germany was engaged in a movement of world conquest the situation presented real difficulties for this Government which he did not see how the new proposals met.
Mr. Obata said that as the Japanese Government concurred in all the points in which tentative agreement had been reached in our previous conversations the Ambassador and he felt that the new proposals did not serve to narrow the scope and the spirit of the original proposals. The Secretary then suggested that if we were under a misunderstanding, the misunderstanding should be cleared up and suggested that Mr. Hamilton and Mr. Ballantine meet with the Japanese Ambassador and Mr. Obata in an endeavor to clear up all doubtful points. The Ambassador expressed fear lest further delay arise through carrying on conversations in regard to details. The Ambassador said that the Japanese Government had emphasized to Mr. Grew the desirability of proceeding as rapidly as possible. The Secretary said that Mr. Grew had been instructed that he might discuss the subject with the Japanese Government by way of explaining points that might not be clear in regard to our attitude and in obtaining clarification of Japanese points of view, but that this Government desired to conduct the conversations here at Washington.
After a little further discussion the Ambassador concurred in the Secretary’s suggestion. It was then left to Mr. Ballantine to get in touch with Mr. Obata by telephone after Mr. Ballantine had consulted Mr. Hamilton.
- Mr. Obata accompanied the Ambassador.↩