761.94/1164: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in France (Bullitt)
Washington, November 30,
1939—4 p.m.
1463. Your 2845, November 28, 5 p.m.
- 1.
- Department shares the skepticism which you felt and expressed. Department is, as you believed, giving fullest possible consideration to all available information; also, to the logic of fundamental facts in the situation. High officials of this Government have on many occasions stated that we wish at all times to be fully considerate of the rights and interests of all countries concerned in the Far Eastern situation; and our attitude and efforts in regard to that situation are constantly influenced by that principle. We are proceeding with patience and caution.
- 2.
- We have noted with care the expressions of their collective opinion given by the three ambassadors to their respective governments. It would be helpful to us, in our efforts to evaluate their reporting of their apprehensions, were we to have indication and estimates of what inducements they think it (a) possible and (b) likely that the Soviet and the Japanese Governments respectively would offer each other as the basis for a political rapprochement. In other words, what could and would each side concede to or promise to the other, and, in each case, for what reason from point of view of self-interest. It might be helpful, in connection with these apprehensions, for those who entertain them to attempt to formulate for purposes of speculative evaluation, the possible content of a possible agreement such as they fear may be concluded.
- 3.
- Mr. Grew was away from Tokyo when the telegrams were sent on November 22 by the three other ambassadors. He was informed of the sending and substance of the said telegrams on November 27, the day after he returned to Tokyo. In the interval, the British Ambassador here, stating that he was doing so on his own initiative, expressed to the Department certain apprehensions. The French Ambassador has approached the Department in a similar sense.
- 4.
- The Department will keep carefully in mind the request with which your telegram under reference concludes.
- 5.
- You may inform Chauvel of the substance of numbered paragraphs 1 and 2 above. You might consider it useful to call his attention to substance of Mr. Welles’ and Mr. Messersmith’s statements relating to the Far East, reported in Radio Bulletins No. 272 of November 17, No. 275 of November 213 and No. 276 of November 22.4
Hull