Ambassador Kurusu called at my hotel apartment at his request. He had no
business to take up with me except to refer to the Japanese
interpretation of the Tripartite Pact and handed me a draft of a paper
which he proposed to sign by way of attempted clarification. I looked at
the paper and then asked Mr. Kurusu whether he had anything more on the
whole subject of a peaceful settlement to offer. He replied that he did
not. I said that I did not think this would be of any particular help
and so dismissed it. This was virtually all that was said of
importance.
[Annex]
Draft Letter Handed by Mr. Saburo Kurusu to the Secretary
of State on November 21, 194161
Washington, November 20,
1941.
Mr. Secretary: Through several
conversation[s] I have had the honor of holding with Your
Excellency, I was rather surprised to learn that a deep-seated
misconception prevails among your people about the obligation which
Japan assumed under the Tripartite Pact.
As Your Excellency is fully aware I am the one who signed the said
treaty under the instructions of my Government; and I am very happy
to make the following statement which I trust will serve to
eradicate the aforesaid false impression:
It goes without saying that this treaty can not and does not
infringe, in any way, upon the sovereign right of Japan as an
independent state.
[Page 757]
Besides, as Article III of the Pact stands, Japan is in a position to
interpret its obligation freely and independently and is not to be
bound by the interpretation which the other high contracting parties
may make of it. I should like to add that my Government is not
obligated by the aforementioned treaty or any other international
engagement to become a collaborator or cooperator in any aggression
whatever by any third Power or Powers.
My Government would never project the people of Japan into war at the
behest of any foreign Power; it will accept warfare only as the
ultimate, inescapable necessity for the maintenance of its security
and the preservation of national life against active injustice.
I hope that the above statement will assist you in removing entirely
the popular suspicion which Your Excellency has repeatedly referred
to. I have to add that, when a complete Understanding is reached
between us, Your Excellency may feel perfectly free to publish the
present communication.
I have [etc.]
