711.94/897: Telegram

The Chargé in Great Britain (Atherton) to the Secretary of State

32. Ambassador-designate Saito sails on steamship Berengaria February 3.

In possibly assumed after-dinner conviviality and on the basis of old acquaintance he informed me last night in the course of a long conversation that upon reaching Washington he would be entirely motivated by two policies:

1.
To persuade American opinion that, in view of the future which the Japanese people were justified in expecting, Japan had been right in principle, although he personally was willing to admit wrong in method, in having sought extension of influence into Manchuria.
2.
To persuade the righting service-politicians of Japan that they had nothing to fear from the United States.

In regard to this last Saito stated he had been appointed through the confidence Japanese army and naval circles felt in him based on his dealings with them during the London Naval and Geneva Conferences. He added that he felt he also understood the psychology of the American people and already was personally acquainted with the President. He said at the earliest opportunity, even possibly at the moment after presenting his letter of credence, he would endeavor confidentially to explain to the President his views that the past was past, that the whole success of his appointment lay in strengthening Japanese-American friendship, that his personal connections in Japan were such that he would be in touch directly with the powers that be, [Page 634] and that in view of his hope to reassure them on the American attitude he would endeavor to seek from the President an assurance given either to him or to his Government that America would not use force in her future relations with Japan.

Saito left me with the impression that any possibility of modification of the views expressed by Admiral Osumi in the Diet Saturday4 lay in some assurance from the American Government as to their peaceful intent toward Japan.

Atherton
  1. January 27.