740.0011 European War 1939/10983: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 16—8:50 a.m.]
686. Embassy’s 673, May 14, 5 p.m.;59 674, May 14, 6 p.m.; 679, May 15, 3 p.m.
- 1.
- A trustworthy Japanese contact informs us today in strict
confidence that he yesterday called on or was otherwise in touch
with the Prime Minister, Baron Hiranuma, Minister of Navy, Minister
of Justice, and the Privy Seal, and that these persons had informed
him that Mr. Matsuoka’s report to the Cabinet of his interview with
me on May 14 was substantially as follows:
The American and British Ambassadors had called on him together. The British Ambassador had immediately put to Mr. Matsuoka a series of sharp interrogatories designed to elicit from Mr. Matsuoka a clear statement of the attitude which Japan would take in the event of war occurring between the United States and Germany.
Mr. Matsuoka had replied firmly and incisively to these interrogatories. He had pointed out to the British Ambassador that the policies [Page 195] of the United States with regard to the European war appeared to make a war between the United States and Germany inevitable. Mr. Matsuoka had affirmed that Japan would not hesitate to discharge its obligations assumed under the treaty of alliance with Germany and Italy. The debate between the British Ambassador and Mr. Matsuoka had then become rather heated and Mr. Matsuoka had gone perhaps further than he would ordinarily have done, but he had nevertheless emphasized that the extension of hostilities would be a catastrophe and that the United States should exercise every care to avoid bringing about a world cataclysm. The American Ambassador had taken practically no part in this conversation.
- 2.
- We informed our Japanese contact of certain salient facts: First, that the British Ambassador was not present during my conversation with the Foreign Minister. Second, that I had no prior knowledge of the interview which took place between Mr. Matsuoka and the British Ambassador subsequent to my interview with Mr. Matsuoka. Third, that Mr. Matsuoka had used threatening language to me. And finally, that Mr. Matsuoka had subsequently tried to explain to me that it had been his intention to convey to me an impression more moderate than the language which he had inadvertently used would warrant. I believe that our contact will convey that information to the proper quarters.
- 3.
- The Privy Seal asked our informant to convey to me the message that I was not to be unduly aroused over the statements and attitude of the Foreign Minister, for the reason that there are persons in the Government who are exercising care to prevent the taking by Japan of hasty action. The Minister of the Navy asked our informant to remind me that any decision so grave as that of implementing any obligation which Japan might have under her alliance with Germany could not be taken by the Minister for Foreign Affairs alone.