710.11/2553
Memorandum by the Assistant Secretary of State (Berle) of a Conversation With the Japanese Ambassador (Horinouchi)
The Japanese Ambassador called today, at his request.
He brought up the interview given by Mr. Early to the newspapers. He said this somewhat confused him, because it was thought that there was a discrepancy between the President’s statement and the statement of the Secretary of State on the Monroe Doctrine.
I said that there was no discrepancy in fact, though I did not undertake to say that some of the newspaper commentators might not have erected one. On the contrary, the President had taken occasion to say that he stood wholeheartedly behind the Secretary’s point of view.
I said that Secretary Early’s statements, taken out of their context, might create the impression of discrepancy, but that there was none, in fact.