Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1938, The Far East, Volume IV

693.001/355: Telegram

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

Tokyo, October 6, 1938—8 p.m.
[Received October 6—10:34 a.m.]

648. Department’s 342, October 5, 11 a.m.

1. I sincerely regret any possible embarrassment that may have been caused to the President or the Department as a result of the garbled telegram and highly appreciate the President’s ratification of the action taken here. I feel that the serious circumstances set forth in the Department’s telegram fully justified a direct message from the President. I gathered from my talk with the Prime Minister that he had little if any conception of the circumstances which led to our complaints and I believe that the opportunity to bring these circumstances directly to his attention, especially with the great weight attached to a message from the President, was wholly fortunate. The fact that the Prime Minister has called for reports from the Foreign Office on every point raised in our conversation indicates something more than bureaucratic formality.

2. I see no reason why any reference to the President need be included in the text of our note to be presented to the Foreign Office in the language drafted by the Department or any explanation of its omission and I suggest that the term “Government of the United States” be substituted for “the President”.

3. I concur in the Department’s proposals in regard to the statements in the draft note relating to Manchuria and shall be guided thereby in its final preparation.

4. Please instruct whether the note may now be presented.

Grew