740.00/1991: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Chargé in Japan (Dooman)
Washington, August 1,
1939—8 p.m.
235. Your 376, July 31, 11 p.m.
- 1.
- The Department has re-examined the text of the proposed reply in the light of the comments contained in your telegram under reference. Although we can appreciate that some of the statements contained in the reply, if taken by themselves, might tend toward creating an impression somewhat along the lines suggested in your paragraph numbered 2, it does not seem to us that the message viewed as a whole need give or emphasize the impression which you estimate that it would. We therefore would welcome further clarification of the thought suggested in the first sentence of your numbered paragraph 2.
- 2.
- In the view of the Department our proposed message answers both the Prime Minister’s message handed to Mr. Grew and the Prime Minister’s subsequent proposal communicated through you which we construe as an elaboration of the message. As stated in the Department’s 196, July 13, 6 p.m.,73 our reply thus includes indication of our general reaction to the views reported in your 242, May 23, 11 p.m.
- 3.
- As the matter appears to the Department, neither of the alternative procedures suggested in your numbered paragraph 4 need be adopted. We believe that the reply needs no explanatory comment and that when you deliver it you should make no interpretative comment other than to say, if expressly asked, that the reply is meant to cover both the Prime Minister’s written message and his statements reported in your telegram no. 242, May 23, 11 p.m.
- 4.
- The Department is sending you by separate telegram73a the text of a slight change which the Department desires be made in the text of the reply.
- 5.
- Upon receipt from you of the clarification requested in paragraph 1 above, the Department will expect to send you definitive instructions with regard to the question of when the reply should be delivered.
Welles