811.001 Roosevelt Visit/19: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Japan (Grew)
101. Your 122, June 13, 5 p.m., and previous. Believing that the procedure of “trial balloons” and associated practices is overworked by the Japanese Embassy here, and noting that stories on this subject apparently persist in the Japanese press, Department believes that you should inform Hirota orally that the President has no thought of having conferences with Japanese officials during his cruise. Unless you perceive definite objection, please do this and take occasion to suggest the view that public statements and hints to the press by responsible officials speculating or provoking speculation with regard to possible future events involving matters of high policy do more harm than good to the cause of improving relations between our two countries.