711.94/1599

Memorandum by the Ambassador in Japan (Grew)

Because of the satisfactory nature of the observations of the Foreign Minister regarding the communication made to the British Military Attaché by the Japanese Director of Military Intelligence, referred to in our telegram No. 470, June 19, 5 p.m., and No. 473, June 19, 7 p.m.,67 I deemed it desirable to carry out the Department’s instructions and accordingly met the Minister for Foreign Affairs again privately this afternoon at the home of a mutual friend.

In line with the suggestion contained in paragraph 8 of my telegram No. 400 of June 3, noon,68 to the effect that without making any commitments whatsoever it might be useful at this crucial period in world affairs to convey to the Foreign Minister and to others with whom I might have occasion to talk certain general thoughts with regard to the possible opening in future of a new and mutually helpful era in the relations between the United States and Japan, and in line also with the Department’s desire, as expressed in paragraph 3 of its telegram No. 203 of June 15, 2 p.m.,68 that the door be kept open for exploring constructive possibilities, I prefaced my remarks to the Minister today by reading to him two excerpts from my instructions which seemed to me to strike the note which underlay my entire presentation, and I felt that these points should be emphasized before proceeding to deal with the bases upon which any such future program could be developed with profit. These two points were as follows:

As soon as reasonably clear indications emerge that the aims and intentions of Japan are of a character consistent with the underlying policies and principles believed in by the United States and to which the United States hopes that Japan will decide to adhere, my Government believes that many practical avenues will develop which can be explored to mutual advantage.

[Page 82]

As developments take place conformably to the principles indicated, we might anticipate a multiplication of means of cooperation along many avenues in the general direction of the economic development in countries in need of and requesting such development.

I then read to the Minister an “oral statement”69 drafted in close conformity both with the substance and with the spirit of the Department’s telegraphic instruction No. 203, June 15, 2 p.m., and a separate informal list of certain points meriting special consideration,70 and afterward discussed them at length with the Minister in the light of the instructions referred to, taking care to omit no important point or consideration. Later the Minister slowly and carefully read the papers to himself with a view to obtaining a thorough and correct impression of their contents. He requested me, as had been the case at previous interviews, to leave the papers with him in order that he might give them careful study, and I complied, as I had previously done, on the understanding that the papers were to be considered merely informal records of a presentation made orally.

I also took occasion to bring to the Minister’s attention the substance of portions of the letter of January 8, 1938, from the Secretary of State to the Vice President with regard to the Far Eastern situation,71 particularly the following portion:

The letter dated January 8, 1938, from the Secretary to the Vice President asserts that the interest and concern of the United States in the Far Eastern situation and in other similar situations are not measured by the number of American citizens residing in a particular country at a particular moment, nor by the amount of American investments therein, nor by the volume of trade. There is a broader and more fundamental American interest—that relating to the maintenance of orderly processes in international relationships. The United States is deeply interested in supporting by peaceful means influences contributory to the preservation and encouragement of such processes in the Far East—an area containing half the population of the world. This interest far transcends in importance the value of American trade with China or American investments in China. It transcends even the question of safeguarding the immediate welfare of American citizens in China.

I added, however, that the welfare of American citizens and the protection of American just and legal rights in China are also of important concern to the American Government and that I could not visualize any marked improvement in American-Japanese relations until Japanese interference with our citizens and interests in China should cease.

The only response made by the Minister, other than to express his appreciation at the opening of these conversations, was that in view [Page 83] of “the great importance” of the communication which I had just made, he considered it best to refrain from comment until he had had a chance to give it further study, and stated that he would reply in due time.

J[oseph] C. G[rew]
  1. Neither printed.
  2. Not printed.
  3. Not printed.
  4. Infra.
  5. Post, p. 85.
  6. Vol. i, p. 429.