793.94/6612: Telegram

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

77. Department’s 56, April 25, 1 p.m.54

1.
Statement was first issued orally to press correspondents in Japanese and later “unofficially” in written English translation.
2.
No written Japanese text was issued by the Foreign Office but Rengo distributed a Japanese text of the oral statement and the Foreign Office has not denied the authenticity or correctness of the Rengo Japanese text.
3.
Fleisher’s translation of the Rengo Japanese text was checked by the Embassy and found to be substantially correct.
4.
A translation was issued on the 19th by the Foreign Office but was subsequently labeled “An English translation unofficially issued by the Foreign Office of the unofficial statement issued by the Foreign Office on April 17”.55 This translation which consists of 550 words appears to be a substantially identical version of Fleisher’s translation which was adopted by the Foreign Office with a few unimportant changes. Copies were mailed to the Department 21st.56 The complete text will be telegraphed if deemed by the Department necessary or desirable.
5.
The Embassy has copies of the Rengo Japanese text and of the “unofficial” English translation issued by the Foreign Office.
6.
The “unofficial” translation issued by the Foreign Office differs slightly in wording from the translation telegraphed to the Herald Tribune but does not differ substantially in meaning. In telegraphing his translation Fleisher omitted a few words and phrases which do not appear necessary to convey the meaning.

The Department appears to be endeavoring to obtain an authoritative text of the statement. There is no authoritative text. The best obtainable is the unofficial English translation of the unofficial oral statement made by the spokesman of the Foreign Office to newspapermen. I have good reason to believe however that the Japanese text as read by Amau was taken from an instruction approved by Hirota for transmission to all Japanese diplomatic missions for their guidance but released by Amau to the press without Hirota’s knowledge or consent.

Since the beginning of this affair I have made no statements whatever to the press, taking the position that any information on the subject [Page 139] should emanate either from the State Department or the Foreign Office here.

Grew
  1. Not printed.
  2. For text, see Foreign Relations, Japan, 1931–1941, vol. i, p. 224.
  3. Despatch No. 751, April 20, from the Ambassador in Japan, ibid., p. 223.