793.94119/378: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Japan (Grew)
10. Reference general considerations and your 23, January 12, 11 p.m. It has occurred to the Department that possibly a useful purpose might be served if there could be conveyed to the Japanese Government at this time when the Imperial Conference has under consideration matters of the gravest import, mention of points as follows: that the eyes of the world are on Japan; that the nature of the decisions reached by the Conference may have a profound effect upon the welfare and the prosperity of the whole world; that the fighting which has been going on in China for the past 6 months has seriously disturbed all normal and mutually beneficial activities in and with regard to China; that the fighting is producing political and economic and social dislocations and tensions which affect adversely not only China and Japan but other countries as well; that there is no way by which the other countries of the world or even Japan can escape various adverse effects of and from the present conflict, and that prolongation and further extension and intensification of the hostilities will inevitably increase the concern of other nations which suffer from these adverse effects and add to the chance of unfortunate international complications; that we are convinced that practical application of the principles of policy set forth in my statement of July 1632 would be in the best interests of Japan as well as of other countries; and that we earnestly hope that the decisions of the Japanese Government will be fully in keeping with the best traditions of wise, high-minded and farseeing Japanese statesmanship.
I realize that the question of making such an approach to the Japanese Government at this time is a delicate one and that it is highly desirable that there be avoided an appearance of foreign intrusion into questions of internal Japanese political deliberations. It is possible, however, that a friendly talk by you with the Minister for Foreign Affairs along the lines indicated might be fruitful of more of good than of harm.
[Page 17]I wish you to use your own discretion both as to whether such an approach as I have outlined should be made and, if your decision be in the affirmative, as to whether you should speak on your own initiative or as under instruction from your Government.
No mediation by us is contemplated or implied by the foregoing.