811.30 Asiatic Fleet/517: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 18—12:11 p.m.]
545. Department’s 290, August 16, 6 p.m.
1. Our informal efforts to obtain authority for the Monocacy to proceed to Shanghai have proved abortive. We were advised that while our representations would be communicated to Admiral Oikawa, it is not the intention of the Japanese Government to intervene in the exercise by Admiral Oikawa of the discretionary powers vested in him.
2. I therefore took up the case this afternoon directly with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and made strong oral representations, basing my approach upon (a) practical considerations and (b) legitimate rights, and emphasizing the various points set forth by the Department and by the American Commander-in-Chief. I furthermore pointed out that this question is one of the utmost delicacy which deserves to receive the most careful consideration of the Japanese [Page 171] Government and that I could not believe that the Japanese Government would leave entirely to the discretion of one of its subordinate officers the decision in a matter involving one of the primary rights of the United States.
3. General Ugaki said in reply that the Japanese Government sincerely appreciated the courses which the American Government has followed during the hostilities in China. He did not think that he could subscribe to our argument that section of the Yangtze under discussion is at present a public waterway because the Japanese have made great sacrifices in opening the boom at Matang simply for military purposes and their standpoint is in their opinion one of pure logic.
The Minister then said that after our initial representations the Japanese Government had immediately consulted Admiral Oikawa and was now in receipt of his reply which could be summarized as follows: (a) The necessity of military operations render compliance with our request difficult at the present time but every effort will be made to comply at the earliest possible moment; (b) the Japanese Navy, on request from us, will be glad to cooperate by furnishing Japanese vessels or, if necessary, planes for the supply or transportation of provisions or fuel for the Monocacy and for the transportation of mails or personnel.
4. I reemphasized the importance of principle at issue and said that while I would promptly report to my Government the Minister’s reply I could not predict the attitude either of my Government or of the American Commander-in-Chief.
5. I interpret this as a categorical refusal and while fully appreciating the seriousness of the issue here involved I think that there can be no doubt but that we have exhausted diplomatic resources.
Repeated to Shanghai for the Commander-in-Chief.