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

711.94/2281a: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in China (Gauss)

Washington, September 12, 1941—6 p.m.

213. For the Ambassador only. Reference your 383, September 10, 6 p.m., and 384, September 11, 7 p.m.²⁰ The Chinese Ambassador called at his request on September 4 and inquired about the reported conversations between this country and Japan. I told him that casual or exploratory conversations were going on; that they have not disclosed as yet any common basis for negotiations; and that this Government would expect to discuss the entire question with the Chinese Government and the Ambassador before even considering any negotiations affecting the situation in China. I added that similarly we would talk with the Australians, the Dutch and the British.

During the conversations with the Japanese we have had continuously in mind the question of a general settlement of Pacific problems on the basis of fundamental principles which this Government has long believed constitute the only sound basis for stable relations between nations. Any sort of arrangement allowing for the continuance of aggression in China has not been given any consideration whatsoever. The course which this Government has been and is pursuing in its relations with both China and Japan is based upon certain well-known fundamental principles and policies which this Government has no intention of sacrificing. The political and economic measures which this Government has taken with respect to Japan have been the result of the development of certain situations and conditions in China and other areas in the Pacific, including the expressed attitude of the Japanese Government toward the program of world conquest of Hitlerism. It is not to be expected that those measures will be altered or done away with until the situations and conditions which gave rise to them have been altered or done away with. Similarly the policy of this Government in aiding any nation resisting aggression is based upon fundamental principles including the principle of self-defense. It is a policy which has been fully endorsed by the Congress and by the vast majority of the American people. So long as aggression continues and so long as nations resist that aggression, those nations may expect to continue to receive in full measure the material, political and moral support of this nation.

You are authorized in your discretion to inform responsible Chinese Government officials orally and informally of the foregoing. You may care to inform those officials of statements which I have made in regard to this question at press conferences as reported, for example, in Radio Bulletins no. 207, August 30; no. 212, September 5; and no. 216, September 10.²¹

Hull

20. For No. 384, see vol. v, p. 537.
21. See also Department press releases issued on September 5, 8, and 10, Department of State Bulletin, September 6 and 13, 1941, pp. 179, 201, and 202.