811.001 Roosevelt Visit/19: Telegram

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

122. Department’s 94, June 11, noon. As a matter of principle it generally seems preferable to let such stories die a natural death and not to issue statements from the Embassy. In the present case, however, there appear to have been certain influences intent upon keeping the story alive. The Foreign Office spokesman this morning told the correspondents that the Foreign Office had received a telegram from Saito the contents of which he could not divulge but that he understood that the President had not talked about inviting Hirota or other Japanese officials to Honolulu. He added significantly that “that is the situation up to today.”

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In view of Hirota’s semi-humorous observations to certain newspaper correspondents yesterday reported to the United States by the Associated Press to the effect that if invited to Honolulu he might accept, a public statement by the Embassy at this moment would be interpreted as an open rebuff. The whole story is presumably a trial balloon and should die of inanition. Unless otherwise instructed I shall be guided by developments.

Grew