Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1939, The Far East, Volume III

711.942/416: Telegram

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

Tokyo, December 27, 1939—3 p.m.
[Received December 27—9:18 a.m.]

708. Department’s 413, December 23, 2 p.m.

1. Yesterday I communicated orally the substance of the Department’s telegram under reference to the Minister for Foreign Affairs through Yoshizawa. The Foreign Minister replied today through the same channel that the statement actually made by the Foreign Office spokesman (see our 700, December 23, 1 p.m.), which was an oral one, did not go beyond the substance of the official communiqué which the Foreign Minister and I had agreed upon. He said that an explanation by Suma would be sent to me today.

2. The Foreign Minister also desired that my attention be called to a story which appeared in one paper this morning to the effect that he had reported at yesterday’s Cabinet meeting the receipt of assurance from me of the desire of the United States to avoid a treatyless situation. He wished to emphasize that the story was made out of whole cloth, as he had reported nothing of the kind.

Grew