711.94/1059: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 12—7:03 a.m.]
26. Senator Pittman’s speech in the Senate has aroused relatively little press comment. Such excerpts as were telegraphed were given a prominent position in the news columns as well as the Secretary of State’s speech that he had not been consulted in reference to it. The Asahi, the Nichi Nichi and the Hochi are the only important Tokyo papers as yet to comment on it editorially and they attribute it to anti-Japanism and the Senator’s desire to get before the public in election year; they deny the charge that Japan is closing the door in China and regret that a man of Senator Pittman’s high position in American public life should be so misled as to make the unfounded charge he does against Japan.
The Spokesman of the Foreign Office has refused to discuss the speech and there is evident a desire in official quarters to minimize its importance.
The Japan Times this evening publishes a reasonable editorial pointing out Senator Pittman’s place in the American Government and explaining that he does not represent the Administration.