711.94/737
The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 22.]
Sir: As the Department has undoubtedly noticed from press reports, there has been a recrudescence of anti-American propaganda in [Page 716] Japan during recent months. This agitation has been manifested by attacks on American policy in the Far East and elsewhere, by official criticisms of utterances of the Secretary of State, by accusations of espionage against American citizens resident in or passing through Japan, and by criticism of American naval movements.
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The purpose of these tactics of the chauvinistic element in general and the Army in particular is two-fold, (1) to maintain the present war-fever for the purpose of obtaining as much money as possible for the Army, and (2) to keep the people in a defiant, war-like frame of mind while the Manchurian crisis lasts.
The Army, in its endeavor to regain its former position of power and authority in the nation, wishes to expand and to modernize its equipment, and the present crisis is being used to the utmost to obtain funds for this purpose. In order to arouse the necessary enthusiasm, it must have a powerful, potential enemy. China is a potential but a very weak enemy, while the Soviets refuse to be drawn into war-like discussions. Consequently the Army is compelled to use the United States as the potential enemy to further its purposes. Certain elements in the Foreign Office are reputed to take their orders from the Army, and therefore some of the propaganda originates in the Foreign Office.
The Army and the Foreign Office expect to meet strong opposition from the League of Nations and the United States over the Manchurian issue when the Lytton report comes up for consideration. The authorities have been loudly proclaiming to the world that Japan’s policy is fixed, that there will be no retreat from Japan’s position in Manchuria, and that Japan will defy the world and withdraw from the League of Nations if necessary. There is a considerable body of opinion in Japan, however, which does not agree with this intransigeant policy, and it is necessary to keep this body overwhelmed by a popular defiant, war-like spirit. Consequently every opportunity is taken by the chauvinistic element to embitter the people against the Western world in general and the United States in particular.
It is expected that these attempts to spur the people by attacks on the United States will be continued until the Manchurian issue is settled.
Respectfully yours,