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

740.0011 European War 1939/12850a: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Japan (Grew)¹⁶

Washington, July 4, 1941—3 p.m.

372. For the Ambassador and the Counselor only. Please communicate to the Prime Minister as under instruction a message sent by the Secretary of State at the specific request of the President substantially as follows:

The Government of the United States is receiving reports from a variety of sources to the effect that the Government of Japan has decided to embark upon hostilities against the Soviet Union. As the Government of Japan is aware, the Government of the United States has earnestly desired to see peace maintained and preserved in the Pacific area and has done its utmost to contribute to achievement of this high end. Utterances by responsible Japanese officials, especially statements communicated to the Secretary of State by the Japanese Ambassador at Washington in recent months during the course of conversations between them, have furnished the Government of the United States hope that the Government of Japan also desired to maintain and preserve peace in the Pacific area. Those utterances and statements have been so utterly contrary to the reports that this Government is now receiving as to make it very difficult for this Government to give credence to the reports. It goes without saying that embarkation by Japan upon a course of military aggression and conquest would render illusory the hope which this Government has cherished and which it understood the Government of Japan shared that the peace of the Pacific might not be further upset and might indeed be strengthened and be made more secure. The Government of the United States earnestly hopes that the reports under reference are not based on fact and the Government of the United States would deeply appreciate an assurance from the Prime Minister of Japan to that effect.

When you have communicated the foregoing message to the Prime Minister, please inform me immediately of that fact by telegraph.¹⁷

Welles

16. Approved by President Roosevelt on July 3 at 3:30 p.m.
17. The Ambassador in Japan, in telegram No. 939, July 6, noon, reported he had transmitted the message for the Japanese Prime Minister that morning, and that he expected “to receive his reply shortly, probably today.” (740.0011 European War 1939/12851) For Mr. Grew’s statement as handed to Prince Konoye’s private secretary, see Foreign Relations, Japan, 1931–1941, Vol. ii, p. 502.