711.94/2207
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Under Secretary of State (Welles)
The British Ambassador called to see me this morning.
The Ambassador referred to his conversation of yesterday with Secretary Hull and asked what I thought the prospects might be with regard to the Japanese conversations. I replied that whatever the chances might be, it seemed to me that it was of the highest importance that the fullest opportunity be taken to explore the matter and that I was of the personal impression that there was no reason to believe that the outlook was completely unfavorable. I said that I shared the view which Secretary Hull had probably expressed to the Ambassador, namely, that the chances might not be better than one in ten.
I gave the Ambassador to read the telegram from Ambassador Grew66 containing the text of the latest letter sent to the Ambassador by Mr. Matsuoka. The Ambassador expressed the opinion that the letter bore evidences of lunacy. I said that I had formed that impression myself, but that this might be due to the fact that Mr. Matsuoka was understood to be drinking extremely heavily at this time and the mental state apparent in the writing of this letter might be momentary rather than permanent.
- No. 696, supra.↩