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

711.94/3–441

Memorandum by the Adviser on Political Relations (Hornbeck) to the Secretary of State ²¹

undated

1. Who is this “Plenipotentiary Representative of the Japanese Government”? (A Japanese? His name? What group or faction within the Japanese Government sponsors him?)

2. Is he here with the knowledge and with the approval of the Japanese Ambassador?

3. What is the issue between Japan and China in regard to which it is suggested that the United States “mediate”? [The issue is not legal, not economic; it is political: the question is whether the Chinese or the Japanese are to have control in China and whether force or law is to determine “right”.]²²

4. Does this differ substantially from the issue between Germany and Great Britain? [Very little.]

5. Would it be wise for the United States to step in as a mediator in either of those conflicts?

6. Would it be practicable for the United States to negotiate with Japan an agreement whereby the Japanese would undertake to the United States a desertion and betrayal by Japan’s allies? [Effective in Japan? Effect in Germany?]

7. What is the issue between the United States and Japan? [Legitimate rights and orderly processes versus force and conquest.]

8. Has not this issue been created by Japan’s unilateral actions, and not by those of the United States? Would it not be resolved by a return by Japan on her own initiative, without any agreement with anybody, to principles of lawful and orderly procedure?

9. Where, in Japan today, does effective authority lie? [It lies with the leaders within the “military element”, military element being a broad and comprehensive term.]

10. Must not any agreement made with Japan today be an agreement satisfactory to that leadership and can any agreement be concluded at this time with that leadership which would be acceptable to the American people and be ratified by the United States Senate?

21. Submitted to the Secretary of State on March 4 with following notation: Herewith a suggestion of a few questions which might be worth considering in connection with—and which might even be asked during—your impending conversation set for 4 o’clock this afternoon.”
22. Brackets throughout this document appear in the file copy.