761.94/630: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 11—7:43 a.m.]
157. Your 92, October 10, noon. The statement of the spokesman of the War Office is directly in line with the habitual policy of the Japanese military to rattle the saber. Until the present controversy in the Cabinet described in my 156, October 11, 11 a.m. [noon],50 leads to some decision which will determine the future provocative or peaceful policy of the Government it would be premature to interpret the full purport of the War Office statement. The Foreign Office is reported to be debating the action to be taken in connection with the publication of the documents relating to Japan’s alleged [Page 429] determination to seize the Chinese Eastern Railway which the Japanese have branded as forgeries. No decision has yet been reached. The Minister for Foreign Affairs states that he regards the incident as a Russian maneuver in the Chinese Eastern Railway negotiations and not a matter of major importance.
In view of the troubled condition of domestic Japanese politics there is always the possibility that some incident in the present state of tension in Russo-Japanese relations may have serious consequences.
I shall carefully follow developments.