693.001/384: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Japan (Grew)
387. Your 711, November 7, 8 p.m. With reference to Yoshizawa’s observations regarding the publication of our note of October 6, the Department suggests that the Embassy in its discretion may care to avail itself of a convenient opportunity to point out orally to Yoshizawa that while it is realized that publication of the note might create problems for the Japanese Foreign Office, this Government must also take into account its own situation and the interests of the American people; that between the time the note was presented to the Japanese Government and the time the note was published there elapsed approximately 3 weeks; that during that period and for many weeks prior thereto the Department was being pressed by interested American individuals and organizations both in the United States and in the Far East for a clear indication of this Government’s position in regard to the matter of Japanese infraction especially of the principle of equality of opportunity in China; and that while this Government would expect usually to consult the Japanese Government in regard to the question of publishing a document emanating from that Government, there can be no warrant in circumstances such as prevail in and attend this case for questioning either the conventional right or the propriety of this Government’s action in making public the note which emanated from it.