751G.94/103: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Japan (Grew)
355. Your 839, September 14, 9 p.m.84 Department suggests that, unless you perceive objection, you seek an early opportunity to point out to the Foreign Minister the opinion of the American Government that where two countries are engaged in hostilities insistence by one of those countries, in order to attack the other, of the right of passage of its troops through and the use of airdromes in a third country which is not a party to the conflict cannot but seriously affect the status quo of such third country and that stipulations of this nature which the Japanese Government are now making of the authorities in Indochina would seem to be inconsistent with the announced desire of the Japanese Government that the status quo in the Pacific area be maintained.
Referring to the last sentence in translation of the “oral statement” quoted in your 839, September 14, 9 p.m., it is suggested that you point out that this Government’s attitude and policy regarding the unwarranted use of pressure in international relations is global and [Page 125] that we urge upon all governments the employment of none but peaceful means in their relations with all other governments and regions.
You may inform your British and French colleagues of the nature of such approach as you may make to the Japanese Government as suggested above.
Please repeat to Shanghai for repetition to Chungking and Peiping.
- Not printed, but see memorandum by the Ambassador in Japan, September 14, Foreign Relations, Japan, 1931–1941, vol. ii, p. 293.↩