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

711.94/21788/18

Memorandum Prepared in the Division of Far Eastern Affairs

July 11, 1941

Changes in the New Japanese Draft (July 11)⁹³ as Compared with Our Draft of June 21⁹⁴

The new Japanese draft is identical in substance with our draft of June 21 except for the incorporation of the changes noted below:

Preamble.

First paragraph, line 2, insert before accept “as equally sovereign States and contiguous Pacific powers”.

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

In our draft of June 21 a note appended to this section referred in clarification of its subject matter to the Secretary’s statement of June 21 and to a suggested draft exchange of letters which was attached to our draft. While the wording of the substantive part of this section has not been changed, the draft exchange of letters in the annex has been fundamentally altered.

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

This section has been changed as indicated below:

Our June 21 Draft

New Japanese Draft of July 11

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 at Chungking that it enter with the Government of Japan into a negotiation for a termination of hostilities and resumption of peaceful relations. (Note: The phrase “communicated” etc. is omitted: its omission being considered favorable to China as well as to Japan.)

In a note appended to this section in our June 21 draft it was said that the draft of this section was subject to further discussion of the questions of cooperative defense against communistic activities and of economic cooperation between China and Japan. The belief was expressed that suggestions for a change in the language of this section could most advantageously be considered after the working out of points in connection with these questions as indicated in the annex relating to this section which formed part of our draft of June 21.

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

Line 9, delete to and insert “for the production and procurement of”.

Annex and Supplement on the Part of the Japanese Government

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

This annex has been changed as indicated below:

Our June 21 Draft

New Japanese Draft of July 11

The basic terms as referred to in the above section are as follows: 1. Neighborly friendship. 2. (Cooperative defense against injurious communistic activities—including the stationing of Japanese troops in Chinese territory.) Subject to further discussion. 3. (Economic cooperation.) Subject to agreement on an exchange of letters in regard to the application to this point of the principle of non-discrimination in international commercial relations. 4. Mutual respect of sovereignty and territories. 5. Mutual respect for the inherent characteristics of each nation cooperating as good neighbors and forming an East Asian nucleus contributing to world peace. 6. Withdrawal of Japanese armed forces from Chinese territory as promptly as possible and in accordance with an agreement to be concluded between Japan and China. 7. No annexation. 8. No indemnities. 9. Amicable negotiation in regard to Manchoukuo.

The basic terms as implied in the Konoe principles and the practical application of those principles are as follows: 1. (No change.) 2. Cooperation to prevent the extension of injurious subversive activities which threaten national security. 3. Economic cooperation. Japan does not intend (a) to exercise economic monopoly in China; (b) nor to limit the interests of third powers in China. 4. (No change) 5. (No change except for substitution of “Eastern Asia” for East Asian.) 6. Withdrawal of Japanese armed forces from Chinese territory with the restoration of peace, within a period of two years and in accordance with an agreement to be concluded between Japan and China, (The Republic of China shall guarantee the establishment of peace and order during the period of troop withdrawal.) 7. Recognition of Manchoukuo.

Exchanges of Letters

Our June 21 draft contained a suggested exchange of letters between the Secretary and the Japanese Ambassador in which reference was made to this Government’s attitude toward the European war, and assurances were respectively requested and given with regard to Japan’s commitments in the event that this Government might be forced to take measures of self-defense. In replacement of this suggested exchange of letters the new Japanese draft suggests a letter from the Japanese Ambassador to the Secretary the substantive part of which is as follows:

“With regard to the Joint Declaration entered into on behalf of our two Governments, it is understood that the stipulations of this Understanding shall not affect in any manner whatsoever, the inalienable rights of self-defence which each country may exercise vis-à-vis any third power.”

Our June 21 draft contained a draft of a suggested letter by the Secretary to the Japanese Ambassador designed to make clear the content of the term “economic cooperation” between Japan and China and Japan’s intended course of action in connection therewith. In the new Japanese draft this letter is omitted.

93. Not printed, but see letter to the Postmaster General, forwarded to the Department on July 11, p. 303.
94. Foreign Relations, Japan, 1931–1941, Vol. ii, p. 486.
95. Underscoring within a quotation indicates changes marked in red ink in the original text of the Japanese draft. [Footnote in the original.]