793.94/8636: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 26—6:45 a.m.]
137. 1. I called this morning on the Minister for Foreign Affairs to present Dooman.17 The Minister stated that Kawagoe would leave on or about June 10 for Nanking and that he is to be directed as soon as practicable after his arrival there to begin conversations with the Chinese Government looking toward the adjustment of important questions pending between Japan and China.
2. He observed that one of the greatest impediments in the way of doing anything to improve relations between the two countries is the divergence of views among various influential Japanese elements and he especially mentioned the military at Hsinking and Tientsin. He expressed regret that there should have occurred at this time any incident such as that which occurred recently at Swatow18 for the reason that there is possibility that a grave view would have to be taken of it.
3. He said that Kawagoe had requested to be relieved as Ambassador to China but that Kawagoe could not be satisfactorily replaced at this time. Sato admitted that the previous conversations carried on by Kawagoe with the Chinese Government had been unsuccessful. He felt, however, that Kawagoe had profited by his past experiences in [Page 105] China and that he would exploit such experience to advantage in the forthcoming negotiations.
Repeated to Peiping.