394.1123 Thomson, J. C./32: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 29—8:20 p.m.]
500. Department’s 259, July 28, 4 p.m.40 Publication of aide-mémoire on Thomson incident.
1. In weighing the Department’s inquiry I have given full consideration to the importance, particularly at present, of endeavoring to reduce elements of irritation in our relations with Japan so far as is possible without depriving the American public of the publication of such information as it may rightfully expect. I believe that the Foreign Minister is endeavoring to put a stop to such incidents as the Thomson case, and in the meantime I think that no constructive good can be accomplished by steps which would be interpreted here as lack of faith in his efforts.
Therefore, although I told the Minister in our conversation on July 21 that my Government might find it necessary to give publicity to its position and to the record in the Thomson case, and although the Minister at that time raised no objections, I nevertheless felt it wise today to approach the Foreign Office through Yoshizawa informally and as a matter of courtesy to announce the Department’s intention to publish our aide-mémoire.
2. Yoshizawa, after reference to the Minister, said that if we published the aide-mémoire, the Foreign Office would then feel obliged to publish the Japanese side of the case which would be entirely contradictory, thereby creating an impasse which he likened to the Keelung incident.41 He said that this would give rise to adverse popular feeling in both our countries which would be of no help in the settlement of future differences and he added that he could foresee marked irritation on the part of the Japanese military in China which also would not be helpful. Yoshizawa furthermore stated that he had talked with a staff officer just returned from China who had been present in Nanking at the time of the Thomson incident. This officer said that while there might have been some original apprehension that the sentry had laid hands on Doctor Thomson, the military were now genuinely convinced that not only did the sentry not slap Thomson but that he did not even lay hands on him.
3. Yoshizawa then informally suggested that we step aside for the moment to consider another approach. He proposed that the [Page 424] Japanese authorities issue a public statement in connection with the Thomson incident that while the Japanese Government maintains its position and conviction as to the facts of the case, the Japanese military will nevertheless impress upon the Japanese soldiery the importance and propriety of maintaining at all times an attitude of civility toward American nationals, and that for our part we issue a simultaneous statement that after lengthy discussion the conclusion has been reached that no good purpose would be served by further controversy over the incident and that while the American Government can not relinquish its position and conviction as to the facts of the Thomson affair, we will nevertheless, in view of the Japanese intention to caution its own soldiery, take appropriate occasion to caution our nationals as to the importance of paying due consideration to the duties of Japanese sentries in the occupied areas.
4. The foregoing formula was reached only after several conversations and after I had categorically declined even to transmit to Washington the formula which the Foreign Office first proposed.
5. Yoshizawa stated that there was no alternative to the foregoing procedure without incurring sharp friction.
6. I myself believe implicitly in Dr. Thomson’s version. Nevertheless, while strongly reluctant to cede any point on these current incidents, I cannot avoid the opinion that in the interest of a solution of the many issues with which we are faced in connection with Japanese activities in China we shall gain more in the long run by aiming to avoid acute friction when such friction can be avoided without sacrificing national dignity. I also believe that such efforts as General Ugaki may be making to implement his various assurances to us will be more likely to bear fruit if we can succeed in the meantime in tempering publicity both in the United States and Japan.
No repetition.