Office of the Historian

693.002/656: Telegram

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

Washington, May 20, 1938—1 p.m.

176. Your 316, May 17, 3 p.m., and 314, May 17, 11 a.m.,92 Chinese Maritime Customs.

1.
The Department concurs in the opinion expressed in your telegram No. 316, but feels it desirable that, unless you feel strongly that it is inadvisable, a pro memoria in regard to the matter be given the Japanese Foreign Office for the purpose of having on record an accurate statement of our position. In such a document, it should be made clear that the American Government reserves entirely its declared position in regard to the matter.
2.
If in your judgment any useful purpose would be served thereby, you might also, in such manner as you may deem appropriate, inform the Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs that, should there be default in the service of the obligations concerned, the American Government may feel impelled, in order to clarify its position and action, to give full publicity in the United States to your approach to the Japanese Foreign Office on May 17 and to the fact that the Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs indicated that the views of his Government differ from those expressed by you.
Hull
  1. Latter not printed, but see memorandum of May 17, Foreign Relations, Japan, 1931–1941, vol. i, p. 743.↩