741.94/225: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan ( Grew ) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 27—7 a.m.]
752. The local press has recently carried reports to the effect that the Japanese Ambassador in London had persuaded the British Government of the advantage of cooperation with Japan in the Far East.
In this connection my British colleague showed me this morning a telegram from his Government stating that no such message has in any way been inspired by any official or any department in London. Shigemitsu38 has recently held conversations with Sir H. Wilson39 and with Leith-Ross40 and it is believed that he subsequently made some communication to the London representative of Domei. The [Page 397] British Government would not be surprised if reports of this nature voice a number of hopes whether justifiedly or not which get into the Japanese press transformed into statements of fact. The British Government adds that the American Government and myself may rest assured that the British Government has no intention of being inveigled into negotiations for a deal with Japan inimical to the rights or interest of China or of any other third party.