711.94/1293
Memorandum by the Secretary of State
The Japanese Counselor came to say goodbye. After an exchange of the usual remarks on such occasions, Mr. Suma referred to the differences now existing between our countries after a long-standing friendship. He proceeded to add that the new Japanese Government would have as a chief purpose the restoration of good relations between our two countries. He then inquired if I had anything to say that he might repeat to his Government officials upon his return to Tokyo. I replied that I had nothing particularly in mind more than what I had said to the Japanese Ambassador on August 26th11 when he called here. I went on to state that I had heretofore already said about all I could say on this general subject; that I was mindful of the long friendship between the people of Japan and the people of the United States; that my Government, during the present period when international law is being kicked aside and ignored, treaty obligations violated with impunity, and an increasing state of international lawlessness is in evidence in so many parts of the world, all the more vigorously upholds the integrity of international law, of treaty observation, of friendly relations with every other nation alike, including Japan, based also on the rule of fair play and fair dealing; that my Government, of course, is very desirous of a resumption of normal international relations everywhere based on the foregoing principles and rules of conduct, which would include the principle of equality of treatment and opportunity both commercially and industrially.
I then said to the Counselor that I might repeat the message I sent to his country by a previous Counselor who called some two years ago to say goodbye before returning home, and that was that I would have him say to his statesmen that some of these days the fact will dawn upon the three or four most powerful nations of the world, including his country and mine, that there is room enough on this planet for sixteen or eighteen such nations to live and thrive, maintaining all of those normal and peaceful and other worthwhile relations that would make possible the fullest measure of human progress; that when that fact was realized the human race would be just ten times better off than it is or will be otherwise in the future. The [Page 9] Counselor strove to be most agreeable in his conversation and demeanor and took no issue on anything I said, but made it clear that his Government now would undertake to restore mutually desirable relations between our two countries.
- See memorandum by the Secretary of State, vol. i, p. 851.↩