740.00/2015: Telegram
The Chargé in Japan (Dooman) to the Secretary of State
Tokyo, August 5,
1939—9 p.m.
[Received August 5—12:45 p.m.]
[Received August 5—12:45 p.m.]
389. Department’s 242, August 4, 3 p.m.
- 1.
- I very greatly appreciate the authorization granted me by the Department to make or convey to the Prime Minister the explanatory statement indicated by the Department.
- 2.
- With regard to the question raised by the Department in the second paragraph of its telegram under reference I do not have the impression from anything said to me by the Polish Ambassador during our conversation on June 8 or in any subsequent conversation that the Foreign Minister had told him anything on that subject which does not lie within the four corners of the message handed to Mr. Grew on May 18. That message was indeed an effort to explore the possibility of an American-Japanese détente in Europe but does not itself go so far as to propose for consideration as the Prime Minister did subsequently to me the calling of an international conference to discuss business interests as well as European problems. With regard to the inquiry at the Department of the British Ambassador, Craigie asked me about 2 months ago whether I could clarify a report he had heard [Page 205] (presumably from the Polish Ambassador) to the effect that the Japanese Government had approached our Government with regard to the situation in Europe, and I replied that as the Department alone was in a position to decide whether any information on this matter should be given to the British Government, inquiry would best be made in Washington.
- 3.
- The Department will note from our immediately following telegram78 that the timing of the delivery of the reply has been further complicated by reported important developments in Tokyo. My inclination is to withhold action for the present.
Dooman