741.94/499: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Greta) to the Secretary of State
Tokyo, August 14,
1941—4 p.m.
[Received August 14—7:50 a.m.]
1236. This telegram refers to Embassy’s No. 1235, August 14, 3 p.m.25 sent air mail to Shanghai
reporting in full the British Ambassador’s interview with the Japanese
Foreign Minister26
on August 11.
In summarizing his conclusion and impressions of his interview with the
Foreign Minister my British colleague in a telegram dated August 12 reported
to the Foreign Office in London:
[Page 857]
- “1. That as a result of his interview with Admiral Toyoda and
a brief conversation which he had held immediately prior thereto
with the Minister’s interpreter he was convinced that Admiral
Toyoda remained reasonably well disposed towards Great Britain
and was sincerely desirous insofar as the situation would permit
of preventing a break with Great Britain.
- 2. That he was more than ever convinced that the policy of
‘keeping Japan guessing’ was a mistake under present conditions
and that there was more to be gained by a frank and open
discussion of mutual difficulties.
- 3. That it was significant that no mention was made throughout
the entire interview of the United States.
- 4. That the Minister of Foreign Affairs made no complaint
concerning the freezing of Japanese assets by Great Britain and
confined his remarks in this regard to the dangers of further
restriction of exports to Japan on the part of the Dutch East
Indies.[”]
