751G.92/273: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Japan (Grew)
127. Your 285, February 23, 2 p.m. The Department has given careful thought to the suggestion of the French Ambassador reported in your telegram under reference and has reached the conclusion that action at the present time along the lines suggested would not be likely to serve a useful purpose for reasons inter alia as follows: (a) Such action would afford certain Japanese leaders a pretext to allege that the United States was intruding into the situation and to make capital thereof for ulterior purposes; (b) the attitude of this Government is already well known to the Thai and the French Governments; (c) as the armistice is due to expire February 25, the question of extending the armistice will presumably have been settled before this Government could act; and (d) press reports of February 24 from Tokyo indicate that the armistice agreement may be extended.
Should the French Ambassador approach you again on this matter and should you consider such action advisable, you may inform the Ambassador along the general lines indicated above and may add that your Government will continue to give the situation under reference its solicitous attention.