793.94119/414: Telegram

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

141. Your 260, April 21, 4 p.m.

1. Texts of an aide-mémoire of April 11 from British Embassy and an aide-mémoire in reply of April 14 by the Department29 are in pouch which leaves tomorrow for Tokyo, Department having preferred mail instruction to telegraphic instruction for informing you of the subject matter.

Department assumes that your British colleague has informed you of substance of the British Government’s inquiry. Department has stated in reply that in our opinion the circumstances which now prevail are not propitious for action and that it seems to us advisable to defer reaching a decision with regard to procedure until a moment when circumstances make it appear that action would be opportune. We have added that we hope that our two Governments will keep each other informed of any views and any developments which seem significant in regard to the matter under reference.

Welles