894.52/51: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Japan (Grew)
Washington, March 5, 1937—11
a.m.
40. Your telegrams No. 70, March 4, 3 p.m., and No. 71, March 4, 7 p.m.
- 1.
- You are authorized to carry out an exchange of notes and of accompanying letters, as set forth in your telegram No. 71.
- 2.
- You are also authorized in your discretion to inform the principal American leaseholders of our position.
- 3.
- With regard to the making of a public announcement, the Department had no intention of giving publicity to the approaching settlement of the leasehold question until such time as might have proved convenient to the Japanese Government and to the British Government. However, an Associated Press despatch with London dateline of March 2 attributed to “official sources” a report to the effect that Great Britain and Japan have virtually completed an agreement providing for the settlement of the perpetual leasehold question. In view of the publicity given out in London, the Department had prepared a statement for the press and was about to release it when your telegrams under reference were received.
- 4.
- It is requested that you inform the Foreign Office of the circumstances set forth in the preceding paragraph and that you state that this Government is confident that the Japanese Government will realize that it would be embarrassing to this Government to withhold a statement to the press for an unduly long period of time after the publicity which has already been given in London.
Hull