762.94/518
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Under Secretary of State (Welles)
The British Ambassador called to see me at his request.
With regard to the inquiry contained in the attached aide-mémoire33 relative to Mr. Matsuoka’s trip to Europe, I subsequently told Lord Halifax after I had discussed the question with Secretary Hull that the reaction of this Government would be that if Mr. Matsuoka officially asked for the opportunity of making a visit to Washington, this Government would reply that the United States would be glad to welcome him, as it would any other distinguished official of a country with which we are on friendly terms. I said, however, that this Government would take no initiative in the matter.
Lord Halifax replied that this was exactly his own point of view as to the attitude which his Government should take.
- Not printed.↩