893.01 Manchuria/538: Telegram

The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State

254. Department’s 169, October 9, 1 a.m.

1.
The Foreign Office spokesman interpreted the press reports of the Secretary’s speech of October 1 as “challenging” but later, upon receipt of the complete text of the section of the speech dealing with the Far East, stated that it was “much more moderate than the one he delivered in August.”
2.
The War Office criticized the speech severely but this was, they continue, for home consumption and in line with the War Office’s policy of taking advantage of every such opportunity in order to justify their present and proposed future heavy military expenditures.
3.
I have heard no criticism among local Americans regarding this or any other of the Secretary’s speeches and I am surprised that any correspondent sent this report.
Grew