793.94119/748
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Secretary of State
The British Ambassador called at my request. I stated that I understood that he was being kept informed of the often recurring rumors and reports from one source or another about the United States negotiating peace between Japan and China. He said that he had not heard of anything recently. I remarked that I was informed that he had heard of some of the later rumors. He then said that he had heard nothing except the report contained in a letter of May fifteenth to me from the Australian Minister,61 repeating a peace proposal given to Mr. Willkie62 by a Japanese individual, and, in turn, given to him, the Minister, by Mr. Willkie.
I said that I had noticed this same thing floating about, but that I had not thus far treated it seriously. There were two groups in Japan—one pro-German and the other a peace group among the statesmen and high officials. According to one report the latter group really wants to return the policy of Japan back to one of law and order and away from military conquest, et cetera, et cetera; that, as the report goes, they would move their troops out of China, pledge her independence and the principle of non-discrimination to all nations dealing with China and make clear her desire and purpose to [Page 198] support peace and oppose war being brought into the Pacific area. This would include the integrity of Chinese territory and sovereignty and the policy of the open door in every way. I said again that I had not taken any of these things seriously. The Ambassador repeatedly showed special interest in the matter and said he thought that I should develop and explore it even though there might not be one chance in twenty-five for its successful development.