711.94/1516: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State
Tokyo, June 5, 1940—11
a.m.
[Received June 5—7:30 a.m.]
[Received June 5—7:30 a.m.]
417. My 412, June 4, 7 p.m.
- 1.
- I respectfully invite the Department’s attention to the emphasis placed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs in his address before the Pacific Society (my 413, June 4, 8 p.m.52) on the need for removing barriers to trade in connection with the “construction of a new world [Page 347] order to come after the European war”. This is in striking contrast with the position which he took in his informal conversation with Dooman on April 26 when he vigorously defended Japan’s plan for a closed economy and displayed a cynical and pessimistic attitude with regard to the possibility some months ago of creating a “more pro-American world economy upon the conclusion of the European war” (my 282 [289], April 27, 4 [2] p.m.53).
- 2.
- In view of the statements of informant reported in my 40054 that Mr. Arita had recently modified his views radically and that the four-Minister group are considering ways and means for improving relations with the United States and Great Britain, this most recent statement by Mr. Arita and the reference by the Prime Minister to diplomatic plans which cannot now be revealed for improving relations with the United States and Great Britain (my 414, June 4, 9 p.m.) would appear to afford further evidence of the credibility of informant.
Grew