711.942/421: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Japan (Grew)
415. Department’s 412, December 23, 1 p.m.52 The draft mentioned in the Department’s telegram under reference is in the form of a proposed exchange of notes and provides on a reciprocal basis for (1) most-favored-nation treatment in matters relating to commerce, navigation and tariffs, (2) liberty of entry, travel and residence for the purpose of carrying on trade, and (3) national or most-favored-nation treatment in regard to taxes, imposts or charges either direct or indirect. The draft further provides that the proposed arrangement remain in effect for 6 months after January 26, 1940, and thereafter until 3 months have expired from date on which either of the two governments shall have given notice of intention to terminate it.
We feel that this proposal of the Japanese Government has been disposed of for the time being by what I said to the Japanese Ambassador on the occasion of his approach on December 22 and by what you said on the same day to the Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs. It is our thought that if either the Department or the Embassy is again approached on this subject we should refer to the statement which you gave to the Minister for Foreign Affairs on December 22 (as contained in the Department’s 402, December 18, 2 p.m.53) and say that we consider that we should await developments; and that we believe that the conversations now taking place at Tokyo between officers of the Embassy and the Foreign Office appear to offer the most expedient and practical means at the present stage for exploring avenues of adjusting relations between the United States and Japan.
We have furnished the Japanese Ambassador here at his request with the text of the statement quoted in the Department’s 402, December 18, 2 p.m.
- Not printed; it reported the conversation of December 22, p. 626.↩
- Foreign Relations, Japan, 1931–1941, Vol. ii, p. 190.↩