111.22/72
Memorandum by the Assistant Chief of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs (Hamilton)8
I called by appointment on the Japanese Ambassador, Mr. Tsuneo Matsudaira, and had tea with him at his residence.
During the conversation the Ambassador said that during the past two years the situation in Japan had been abnormal and that during the past six months, especially since Hirota became Foreign Minister, a more normal situation had developed wherein diplomacy was reestablished in its former and rightful position. The Ambassador said that in dealing with the situation created during the past two years by the abrupt swing to the Eight in Japan, the more moderate elements had realized that they must allow time to pass in which the forces of the Right movement would spend themselves and permit the gradual reestablishing of more moderate and normal tendencies.
In regard to relations between the United States and Japan, I inquired whether the Ambassador was of the opinion that at the present time some spectacular action should be taken with a view to improving relations between the two countries, or whether that end could best be achieved by a calm and non-spectacular display of friendship in the day to day relationships between the two countries. The Ambassador replied that in his mind a policy of non-spectacular action designed to build up and foster friendship was the one best designed to serve the interests of Japan and the United States at the present time. He continued that, as I had asked for his opinion in regard to American action and policy in reference to Japan, he felt that at the appropriate time something should be done to adjust the immigration question so as to remove this wound to Japanese pride and sensibilities. He said that he appreciated that it would not be advisable to raise the question until it was evident that a change in the existing law9 would be forthcoming. During his comment on the immigration question the Ambassador mentioned the granting to Japan of a quota and I took his reference to a quota as an opportunity to inquire whether Japan [Page 637] actually would be satisfied if granted a quota. I pointed out that even though Japan were granted a quota, there would remain the American naturalization law10 which did not permit naturalization of Oriental peoples. The Ambassador made no clear-cut reply to my inquiry but said that in general he thought that there should be removed in American law all discrimination against the Japanese and that the granting to Japan of an immigration quota would be a step in that direction.
- Transmitted to the Department by Mr. Hamilton, upon his return to Washington from London and the Far East, as an enclosure to his covering letter of March 10, 1934.↩
- Approved May 26, 1924; 43 Stat. 153. See also Foreign Relations, 1924, vol. ii, pp. 333 ff.↩
- Rev. Stat. sec. 2169; amended February 18, 1875, ch. 80, sec. 1, 18 Stat. 318; May 9, 1918, ch. 69, sec. 2, 40 Stat. 547.↩