390.1115A/317
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Japan ( Grew )
Sir: Reference is made to your telegram no. 49, January 11, 6 p.m. and to a telegram from the Consulate General at Shanghai no. 55, January 13, 19412 in regard to a Yomiuri news despatch from Shanghai on the subject of the withdrawal of American citizens.
This is but one of a large number of instances over a long period in which Japanese news correspondents and agencies at Shanghai and elsewhere have disseminated utterly false reports in regard to situations and developments affecting American interests. The Department assumes that you are keeping in mind instances of this character and that at some suitable opportunity you will, in your discretion, take occasion to bring to the attention of the appropriate officials of the Japanese Government, without featuring this particular item, the unfortunate effect upon American-Japanese relations which results from the sending out of false news reports, an activity on the part of Japanese correspondents and agencies so prevalent [Page 398] over so long a time as to raise the question whether the falsification is often deliberate and malicious.
Very truly yours,
- Latter not printed.↩