893.515/707: Telegram
The Chargé in the United Kingdom (Atherton) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 12—2:42 p.m.]
364. Your 206, August 11, 1 [3] p.m. On Friday last at press conference, in reply to question based on a Tokyo story of an alleged approaching Anglo-Japanese conference, Foreign Office stated that a series of diplomatic discussions with Japanese Government in Tokyo would begin this autumn dealing with economic, political and naval matters, and added in substance as follows: “Leith-Ross would inaugurate these, although he would only touch on economic matters. Ambassador Clive would carry on the political and naval discussion, and Ambassador Matsudaira, now on leave in Japan, would also be [present?]” British and American correspondents, I understand, both used this story.
On the station platform Saturday prior to sailing Leith-Ross replied to a query of an American press correspondent as to why he was not going to Washington: “I don’t go places where I am not invited,” and subsequently added: “as you probably know, the American Government was informed of my mission to China but we have had no reply.”
These statements were not made to British press correspondents and are not carried here, but I am informed certain American press correspondents have cabled the story.
I do not feel there is any Foreign Office attitude or tactics behind these remarks. I consider, however, that certain Treasury and economic advisers have failed to understand why the United States Government has either not adopted the British suggestion for Far Eastern economic and financial conversations or outlined those considerations which prompted lack of action. Furthermore, there is reason to believe that Leith-Ross himself is somewhat annoyed in view of the fact [Page 614] that after considerable effort the necessary British official authorization was obtained for a suggestion to be made on private British initiative to the appropriate American authorities that once in Canada Leith-Ross should enter the United States for very secret discussions on his financial economic mission and other allied financial economic subjects, but that the suggestion for such secret conversations was not entertained by the American authorities.
At press conference today Foreign Office stated there was no reason for Leith-Ross to visit Washington since he would confer with United States officials in Tokyo.