500.A15A5/892: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 18—7:23 a.m.]
162. Embassy’s 161, June 18, 4 p.m. In handing to me today the Japanese aide-mémoire concerning naval gun calibres, the Minister for Foreign Affairs said that this was not a matter concerning only the United States and Japan but that it concerned the world. He therefore wished to observe that Japan’s inability to return a favorable answer was no indication of any lack of friendliness on the part of Japan for the United States. He hopes that as time goes by and the general international atmosphere is improved some favorable solution of the naval problem will come “from somewhere”.