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

740.0011 European War 1939/12861: Telegram

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

Tokyo, July 6, 1941—8 p.m.
[Received 11:20 p.m.]

943. For the Acting Secretary. Department’s 372, July 4, 3 p.m.

1. I immediately sent by safe hand last evening a strictly private letter to the Prime Minister at his private residence in the country requesting an appointment for the purpose stated.

2. Early this morning the Prime Minister’s private secretary came to the Embassy and said that while the Prime Minister would be very glad to see me he feared inevitable publicity if I were to come to him. He suggested our meeting at a golf course but pointed out that all courses would be crowded today, Sunday, and that tomorrow his entire time would be occupied with ceremonial meetings in connection with the anniversary of the outbreak of the “China affair.” He therefore suggested that we meet at golf on Tuesday or Wednesday next. I replied that the matter was too important for delay but that I would entrust the substance of the message to the private secretary (who is favorably known to me as worthy of confidence) to communicate to the Prime Minister and to bring me Prince Konoye’s reply today.

3. Mr. Ushiba, after having conferred with his chief, returned to the Embassy at 6 o’clock this evening and communicated Prince Konoye’s reply as follows:

“Tokyo, July 6, 1941. My dear Ambassador, May I express my sincere thanks for your courtesy of communicating to me the message sent by the Secretary of State at the specific request of the President of the United States. My answer to it will be given by the Foreign Minister as soon as possible after he has returned from Gotemba. Yours sincerely, P. Konoye.”

4. Mr. Ushiba expressed his regret at the incomplete nature of the Prince Konoye’s reply to the Secretary’s message but explained that in Japan there was no precedent for a Prime Minister to treat directly with foreign Ambassadors in matters concerning foreign affairs. I politely, but emphatically, requested Mr. Ushiba to point out to the Prime Minister, as from me, that it would be erroneous to assume that my démarche had been taken for the purpose of going over the head of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and that the procedure adopted was closely in line with the conversations which the Japanese Ambassador in Washington had held directly with the President of the United States who had informed Admiral Nomura that he would always be happy to confer with him. I left Mr. Ushiba in no doubt as to my regret that the Prime Minister had not felt able to reply to the message directly. Mr. Ushiba said that the Prime Minister had endeavored to get into immediate touch with the Foreign Minister today but had failed to do so. He expected Mr. Matsuoka to return to Tokyo tomorrow and would request him to make an appointment with me. I urged that the appointment be made not later than tomorrow in view of the urgency of the matter under reference.

6. [sic] I do not interpret the Prime Minister’s reply as in any respect in the nature of an intentional rebuff. Tradition and precedent in Japan are strong. I however advance the thought that the Secretary’s message sent at the specific request of the President may well give rise to reopened debates within the Japanese Government as to the course which may have been marked out in the recent Imperial Conference, provided that such course envisages an attack on Soviet Russia in the near future, and that the Prime Minister’s letter may represent this desire to play for time in replying to the American Government. This thought is, however, pure speculation.

Grew