500.A15A5/669: Telegram
The Ambassador in Italy (Long) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 20—9:50 a.m.]
58. Last evening I had a short talk with Drummond.53 He said that he had recently talked to Sugimura, the Japanese Ambassador here. He and Sugimura are very warm friends having known each other for years at Geneva. Drummond said that Sugimura had told him that there had been held in Tokyo a Council of State under the presidency of the Emperor in which there was discussed the question of naval armament and the policy of the Japanese Government in respect to building and tonnage. The ranking Admiral was present and had advocated the withdrawal of Japan from the Naval Conference and the resumption of her full freedom of action. Ishii54 or one of the other counsellors of state had asked for assurances that the resumption of freedom would not mean an enormous building program and consequent heavy costs to the Government. The Admiral had given such assurances and had stated that Japan had no intention of building in competition with the United States or with England. Drummond felt that this assurance given in the presence of the Emperor was a very solemn undertaking and expressed himself as being satisfied that Sugimura, who is not of the military clique in Japan, had told him of the incident because of their long and intimate acquaintance and without any ulterior motive. Drummond said he had advised his Government.
Drummond himself saw Mussolini night before last to discuss the Italian naval point of view vis-à-vis the Naval Conference program in London. He discussed that subject only. No reference was made to the political situation developing out of Geneva or Abyssinia.55
Acting Naval Attaché requests Navy be notified.
Repeated to American delegation London.
- Sir Eric Drummond, British Ambassador in Italy.↩
- Viscount Kikujiro Ishii, Japanese Privy Councilor.↩
- In connection with the Ethiopian-Italian conflict; for correspondence concerning this subject, see vol. iii, pp. 34 ff.↩