793.94/9021a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Japan (Grew)
129. For your information. At the press conference today the Secretary, in reply to a question asking for his comment on Hirota’s speech yesterday, stated that he did not have any comment to make, but added that the position of this Government has been thoroughly defined in an exchange of communications made some time ago (1934) between himself and Foreign Minister Hirota.
In answer to another question the Secretary stated that he had instructed the American Ambassadors to China and to Japan to express the hope to the two Governments concerned that hostilities would be avoided, which action was in line with the hope expressed to the Chinese and Japanese Ambassadors here on several previous occasions that means would be found to settle the controversy amicably and that hostilities would be avoided.