893.6363 Manchuria/165: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Japan (Grew)
62. Your 81, April 11, 6 p.m. Department interprets the tactics of the Japanese Government in delaying delivery to you of a reply approximating textually the reply given by that Government 2 weeks earlier to the British Ambassador as an effort to separate us and the British as regards action in relation to the matter. We feel that we should constantly endeavor to maintain a common front, and to that [Page 894] end Department desires that you make reply, synchronizing your action with that of your British colleague and making your text approximately as strong as but not stronger than his reply.
The British Ambassador here called at the Department on April 10 and left a verbal memorandum87 which states that they have instructed Clive to make a brief written reply to the effect that British Government is unable to accept the Japanese contentions as valid and regrets that the Japanese Government has attempted to justify action in which a clear breach of assurances and obligations is involved. The memorandum continues, but in a separate sentence, “His Majesty’s Government cannot but hold those responsible for the Manchurian oil monopoly law responsible also for the losses which it will entail on British interests.”
The memorandum states that Clive is to consult with his Netherland and American colleagues before acting, that, when presenting the note, he is to inform Hirota orally that Simon views Japan’s action with profound regret; that public opinion in England will regard the case as a clear breach of solemn assurances on which reliance has been placed, etc. Department does not know exactly how much they intend that Clive shall include in his written statement or what words he shall employ.
You should ascertain as completely as possible what Clive will put in writing and what he will say orally. In the light thereof and of what appears above, formulate appropriate reply partly in writing and partly in oral statement. You may say, among other things, in either or in both contexts, that the American Government is constrained to express its considered view that ultimate responsibility for injury to American interests in consequence of the creation and operation of the oil monopoly in Manchuria must rest upon the Japanese Government.
- Not printed.↩