Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1941, The Far East, Volume IV

711.94/21623/14

Memorandum Prepared in the Department of State³⁰

undated

Changes From May 31 Draft³¹ in Japanese Draft of June 8³²

Preamble.

• First paragraph: Add “for the resumption of traditional friendly relations”.
• Third paragraph, first line: “Earnest” instead of “present”.
• Third paragraph, third line: Insert “the” before “establishment”.
• Third paragraph, fourth line: After “Pacific area” insert “as well as the prevention of the extension of the European war”.
• Third paragraph, fifth line: After “understanding” insert “encourage world peace and”.
• Fifth paragraph: Insert after “deliberated” “later”.

I. The concepts of the United States and of Japan respecting international relations and the character of nations.

• First paragraph: “Between” instead of “among”.
• Second paragraph, third line: After “household” insert “living under the ideal of universal concord through justice and equity;”
• Second paragraph, last line: “Peoples[”] instead of “nations”.

II. The attitudes of both Governments toward the European war.

First paragraph: Second sentence omitted.

III. Action toward a peaceful settlement between China and Japan.

Rewritten. Texts of draft of May 31 and of Japanese draft shown separately in parallel columns.

IV. Commerce between both nations.

No change.

V. Economic activity of both nations in the Pacific area.

Rewritten.

Important change is elimination of pledge of nondiscrimination in international commercial relations.

New paragraph added which makes specific that we undertake to do something for Japan by way of production and procurement of natural resources in the Southwestern Pacific area.

Comparison of two drafts shown in attached sheet.

VI. The policies of both nations affecting political stabilization in the Pacific area.

Second line: “Controlling” changed to “basic”.

VII. Neutralization of the Philippine Islands.

No change.

ANNEXES

III. Action toward a peaceful settlement between China and Japan.

Japanese annex.

Introductory sentence revised to read: “The basic terms as implied in the Konoe principles and the practical application of those principles are as follows:”

2. “Cooperative defense against communistic activities”. Word “injurious” omitted. May 31 draft reserves the point for further discussion.

3. “Economic operation”. Japan does not intend (a) to exercise economic monopoly in China; nor (b) to limit the interests of third powers in China.

5. “Eastern Asia” instead of “Far Eastern”.

6. “Armed forces” for “military and naval forces”. “And Chinese waters” omitted.

9. “Recognition of Manchoukuo”.

Annex VII. Neutralization of the Philippine Islands.

“The Government of the United States will accord in the Philippine Islands to the Japanese subjects a nondiscriminatory treatment.”

II. The attitudes of both Governments toward the European war.

Annex on the part of the Government of the United States.

Omit statement from Secretary’s address of April 24.

III. Action toward a peaceful settlement between China and Japan.

Entire new annex on part of the United States.

IV. Commerce between both nations.

Annex on the part of the Government of the United States.

Two sentences added.

VI. The policies of both nations affecting political stabilization in the Pacific area.

a. United States annex repeats statement in our oral explanation. Does not belong in annex.

b. Ditto.

c. Immigration. Ditto, plus addition of a sentence.

Addendum.

There is also an addendum reading as follows:

“The Government of Japan declares that it has no intention to establish military bases within the area of the Western Hemisphere; nor to entertain any political designs therein. Similarly, the Government of the United States declares that it has no intention to establish military bases in East Asia or in the Southwestern Pacific area; nor to entertain any political designs therein. The Government of Japan and the Government of the United States mutually recognize the defensive position each maintains respectively in the East Asia area and in the Western Hemisphere.”

III. Action toward a peaceful settlement between China and Japan.

Our Draft of May 31	Japanese Draft of June 8
The Japanese Government having communicated to the Government of the United States the general terms within the framework of which the Japanese Government will propose the negotiation of a peaceful settlement with the Chinese Government, which terms are declared by the Japanese Government to be in harmony with the Konoe principles regarding neighborly friendship and mutual respect of sovereignty and territories and with the practical application of those principles, the President of the United States will suggest to the Government of China that the Government of China and the Government of Japan enter into a negotiation on a basis mutually advantageous and acceptable for a termination of hostilities and resumption of peaceful relations.	The Government of Japan having declared that the general terms, within the framework of which the Government of Japan will propose the negotiation of a peaceful settlement of the China Affair, are implied in the Konoe principles and in the practical application of those principles, the President of the United States, relying upon the policy of the Government of Japan to establish a relation of neighborly friendship with China, will suggest to the Government of Chiang Kai-shek that it enter with the Government of Japan into a negotiation for a termination of hostilities and resumption of peaceful relations.
Note (The foregoing draft of Section III is subject to further discussion of the question of cooperative defense against communistic activities, including the stationing of Japanese troops in Chinese territory.)

v. Economic activity of both nations in the Pacific area.

Our Draft of May 31

Japanese Draft of June 8

On the basis of mutual pledges hereby given that Japanese activity and American activity in the Pacific area shall be carried on by peaceful means and in conformity with the principle of non-discrimination in international commercial relations, the Japanese Government and the Government of the United States agree to cooperate each with the other toward obtaining non-discriminatory access by Japan and by the United States to commercial supplies of natural resources (such as oil, rubber, tin, nickel) which each country needs for the safeguarding and development of its own economy.

With mutual pledges hereby given that American activity and Japanese activity shall be carried on by peaceful means on the basis of mutual benefit, fair dealing and friendly cooperation, both Governments agree to cooperate and support each other toward obtaining non-discriminatory access to commercial supplies which each country needs for the safeguarding and development of its own economy. Noting that the Japanese development in the direction of the Southwestern Pacific area is declared to be of a peaceful nature, American cooperation and support shall be given in the production and procurement of natural resources, such as oil, rubber, tin and nickel—which Japan needs.

30. Penciled notation on a copy filed in the Division of Far Eastern Affairs: “June 10, 1941.”
31. For American draft of May 31, see Foreign Relations, Japan, 1931–1941, Vol. ii, p. 446.
32. Not printed; copy of document handed the Secretary of State on June 9 by the Postmaster General (Walker).