793.94/6605
Memorandum by the Under Secretary of State (Phillips)
The French Ambassador, during his conversation this afternoon, touched upon the Far Eastern situation and asked me whether we had taken any position as yet in Tokyo; he also referred to the several press interviews which the Japanese Ambassador in Washington had given and said that without a doubt his Japanese colleague was talking too much; when he read one of the early interviews in which the Ambassador was quoted as mentioning an “unfriendly act” he was astounded.
In reply I said that we had not made up our minds as to what our action would be; it was possible that, inasmuch as the Japanese Government had announced publicly through the press its policy with respect to the Far East and had not communicated with other governments, it would presumably not be necessary for us to communicate with Japan; on the other hand, we might feel that a statement to the American people of this Government’s views and responsibilities under the treaties with Far Eastern countries might be advisable; possibly if other countries saw fit to make parallel statements to their own people of upholding treaty rights, that might have a good effect.
[Page 133]I told the Ambassador that I was talking to him frankly in reply to his inquiry and that I could only emphasize again that we had reached no definite decision.