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

711.94/254014/35

Oral Statement Handed by the Japanese Ambassador (Nomura) to the Secretary of State on November 17, 1941

[Washington,] 17–11–1941.

Reference is made to the oral statement handed by the Secretary of State to the Japanese Ambassador on November 12, 1941 and, under instructions from his Government, the Japanese Ambassador states as follows:—

1. The all [sic] points contained in the excerpts which the Secretary of State quoted in the oral statement are embodied in the proposals which the Japanese Government made to the United States Government on the 6th and 25th of September last and the present Japanese Cabinet also has no objection whatever to confirming these points as expressing its general purport. It is, however, to be taken for granted that such confirmation has the successful conclusion of the present negotiations between the Japanese and United States Governments as its prerequisite, and that is, failing by any chance such successful conclusion, the Japanese Government is naturally not to be left bound by its commitment on the points above mentioned.

2. In regard to the phrases quoted in the oral statement as modifying the peaceful intent of the Japanese Government, it is to be explained that the phrases in question were after all for the purpose of expressing one and the same intent and that, in the case of Soviet Russia in particular, a more or less detailed stipulation was made out of considerations of the existing Soviet-Japanese neutrality treaty and its relation to the war between Germany and Soviet Russia. These phrases were used only in order to express the qualification which is due to and necessary for an [sic] sovereign state and were not intended to limit or narrow down in any way the peaceful intentions of the Japanese Government.