Office of the Historian

740.0011 European War 1939/8145⅘: Telegram

The Chargé in the United Kingdom (Johnson) to the Secretary of State

London, February 8, 1941—9 p.m.
[Received February 8—6:47 p.m.]

493. Personal for the President and the Secretary of State from Hopkins.92 I came into London today to have lunch with Eden, Cadogan93 and Sargent94 of the Foreign Office. Johnson also present.

They reviewed at length all of the major and minor moves which they think Japan is making. Eden had stiff conversation with Japanese Ambassador95 here yesterday and took very strong line which has been cabled to Halifax,96 the main point of which was that he was asking the Japanese what their real intentions were and saying that England intended to stand for no nonsense in the Far East and would protect her interests to the limit if they were attacked.

Eden believes the Japanese are of the opinion that the presence of our fleet at Hawaii is purely a routine matter and he, Eden, is very anxious that we find a way to accent our determination to prevent Japan from making further encroachments. Eden believes that a positive line by us in relation to Japan might make them pause before they move on Hong Kong.

I want to emphasize in your mind that the British believe that under the influence of Germany Japan is considering making in the near future a positive move against England.

Eden expressed his fear that Japan would be able for a temporary period at any rate to cut off the transport route around the Cape from a base in Thailand. This same base would also cut off supplies from Australia and New Zealand to the eastern Mediterranean.

There has recently been a temporary blocking of the Suez Canal and Eden believes that this move was made by Germany to indicate to the Japanese that the Suez Canal could be successfully closed.

I am returning to have dinner with the Prime Minister.97 Am leaving London tonight. [Hopkins.]

Johnson
  1. Harry Hopkins, Special Assistant to President Roosevelt.↩
  2. Sir Alexander Cadogan, British Permanent Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.↩
  3. Sir Orme Garton Sargent, British Deputy Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.↩
  4. Mamoru Shigemitsu.↩
  5. Viscount Halifax, British Ambassador in the United States.↩
  6. Winston Churchill.↩