711.94/860: Telegram

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

170. In the course of an interview today with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, for the purpose of complying with the Department’s telegram No. 102, October 26, 5 p.m.,69 concerning the Nielsen case,70 Hirota again asked me for suggestions for improving the relations between Japan and the United States. I was, therefore, enabled in response to his invitation to talk along the general lines of your telegram No. 89, October 6, 5 p.m.,71 concerning discrimination against our interests. The Minister listened with attention and then observed that certain French interests had sent representatives to study the opportunities for business in Manchukuo and that he hoped American merchants might do likewise. I replied that numerous American concerns were already represented there. It seemed to me better in this initial discussion of the subject to restrict my remarks to general lines, while leaving with the Minister a clear conception of the unfortunate effects of discriminations against American trade in Manchuria. Hirota said that this phase of our talk would be given no publicity. He was extremely friendly and said that he intended shortly to arrange an informal dinner at his residence and to invite some of our mutual Japanese friends so that we could have a further opportunity for informal conversation.

Grew
  1. Not printed.
  2. For correspondence concerning this case, see pp. 718 ff.
  3. Foreign Relations, Japan, 1931–1941, vol. i, p. 125.