793.94/15514: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 27—8:09 a.m.]
628. 1. The Prime Minister delivered an address Saturday night November 25 at Osaka, various reports of which have appeared in the Tokyo press.
2. According to the Hochi, the Prime Minister stated that it was a mistake to assume that the establishment of a central regime in China, the subjugation of the Chiang Kai-shek government and the withdrawal of Japanese forces from China would bring the China incident to an end. Estimating the strength of the Chungking army at 1,850,000 effectives exclusive of guerrilla bands, the Prime Minister is reported to have said that until these armed forces are exterminated the elimination of the Chiang regime and the establishment of a new Central Government would be meaningless. He added that the settlement of the economic questions might require 3, 5 or even 10 weeks after the actual hostilities had ceased.
3. According to the Nichi Nichi, the Prime Minister referred in the same address to Japan’s foreign relations in part as follows: [Page 326]
“I am of the opinion that it is dangerous for any country to rely upon any other single country in an attempt to defy third countries. It is my conviction that diplomatic dealings must be carried on openly and honestly. If Great Britain should proffer the hand of friendship to Japan, Japan need not disdain it. The same holds true of any offer from the United States. However, Japan need not take the initiative in extending its hand to these countries. Diplomatic efforts will be continued along the lines of its ‘independent policy’.”
By air mail to Shanghai and Peiping. Shanghai please repeat to Chungking by naval radio.