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  4. Document 135

894.032/187: Telegram

The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State

Tokyo, March 19, 1938—6 p.m.
[Received March 19—8:08 a.m.]

186. This morning’s press reports that the following views were expressed by the Foreign Minister3 yesterday at a session of the Lower House Budget Committee:

(1)
The Nine Power Treaty4 is of only nominal existence inasmuch as many of its provisions have never been fulfilled. Abrogation of the treaty is to be expected at an appropriate time.
(2)
Japan has no territorial designs in China. This however is not a consequence of the treaty; it is based upon the functioning of Japan-China relations.
(3)
In time the Provisional Government of China will come to be recognized by the powers. Japan is doing all it can to assist the regime but recognition by Japan now would be premature.
(4)
Japan’s withdrawal from the International Labor Office will perhaps come about.
(5)
With the Permanent Court of International Justice the Foreign Minister intends to maintain the relations now existing.

Grew
  1. Koki Hirota.↩
  2. Foreign Relations, 1922, vol. i, p. 276.↩