Papers relating to the foreign relations of the United States, Japan, 1931–1941, Volume II

711.94/1603

Oral Statement by the American Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs (Arita), June 10, 1940

June 10, 1940

1. I have asked for a talk with Your Excellency because it seems to me important, and possibly helpful, that we should from time to time explore the relations between our two countries.

2. Today I am acting on my own initiative and speaking my own thoughts.

3. I think it important that in today’s talk we should avoid all publicity, and it was for that reason that I suggested a meeting which would not be reported in the press.

4. For some time I have had the impression that Your Excellency has not been especially hopeful that rapid and substantial progress can be made toward improving the relations between our two countries.

5. The impression gained from the statements which you made during our conversation at the Embassy on April 26 was that although efforts were being made by the Japanese Government to put a stop to the bombings by the Japanese forces of American properties in China, and to settle certain claims of American citizens, there was nevertheless a fundamental cleavage between the policies and views of our respective countries which precludes the expectation that constructive action can be taken toward improving our relations before the conflict in China is ended.

6. Indeed, indications have appeared in the Japanese press and in talks that I have had with prominent Japanese that good relations between our two countries are generally regarded in Japan as impossible under present circumstances.

7. Sir Robert Craigie tells me that during a conversation which he had with you after the luncheon of the Pan-Pacific Club on May 27, Your Excellency quoted me as saying that there could be no possibility, so long as the conflict in China continued, of an improvement in the relations between the United States and Japan.

8. So far as I know I have never presented the situation to you in precisely those words or in precisely that form, but I am prepared to admit that the logical implications of the observations which I have made on various occasions to you and to your predecessors are substantially along the lines of the statement which Sir Robert attributes to you.

9. I do remember very clearly saying on innumerable occasions that cessation of bombings of American property in China, of depredation against American property, of the inflicting of indignities on American citizens and of interference with American commercial activities in China, must precede any positive steps looking toward the restoring of friendly relations between the United States and Japan.

10. On the other hand, I can perceive that to you our requiring the cessation of interference with the normal activities of American merchants in China by means of the establishment of monopolies, control of foreign exchange, etc., is equivalent to asking that Japan abandon those objectives in China of which monopolies, exchange and trade control and so on are the instruments of achievement.

11. I wish at this time again to emphasize that relations between our two countries cannot improve so long as there is continuance of interference in the various forms which I have just indicated with American rights and interests in China.

12. I would not have you believe, however, that the cessation of interference with American rights and interests in China is alone capable of opening the way to the improvement of relations: I must make it clear with all the emphasis at my command that we cannot expect the fundamentally friendly relations which Your Excellency and I equally desire so long as Japan continues to endeavor to achieve national objectives by the use of force.

13. The American Government and people have been in the forefront in striving for the bringing about of naval and military disarmament, the relinquishment of force as an instrument of national policy, and the general conduct of relations among nations by orderly and peaceful processes.

14. We regard as a catastrophe the fact that there should exist both in Europe and in Asia conflicts which affect practically all the nations of the world.

15. Having striven so earnestly, ever since the conclusion of the first war in Europe, to avert the recurrence of similar catastrophes, it is not within the power of any Government of the United States to deal on terms of confidence and good relations, even if it desired to do so, with a nation which, by resorting to force as an instrument of national policy, is indifferent to principles to which the American people are firmly and unequivocally committed.

16. On the other hand the American Government and the American people would welcome the fulfillment of their desire for an early return to mutually good and helpful relations with Japan.

17. The importance to both countries of the building up of such relations is dictated now more than ever before by the state of affairs existing in various parts of the world today.

18. It is my confident belief that as soon as definite evidence is forthcoming that it is the genuine desire and intention of Japan to forego the use of force as an instrument of national policy and to direct its efforts and policy toward achieving its objectives by peaceful and orderly means, the United States, for its part, will be disposed to view such reorientation of policy and efforts with sympathy.

19. I have every confidence that by proceeding along the course I have suggested it may be possible in due course to open the way to a new era in American-Japanese relations.