711.94/2432: Telegram
The Counselor of Embassy in China (Butrick) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8:55 p.m.]
348. Kurusu takes following program to Washington: (1) Japan abandons Tripartite Pact; (2) Manchukuo for future discussion; (3) distribution Pacific spheres influence; (4) Japan ceases political, military but not [economic] southward expansion; (5) China returns to status quo ante prior China incident.
He stated Japanese gendarmes desire sabotage any Washington agreement and have placed above information before German Embassy here.
Foregoing obtained from different fairly reliable local contacts by AP representative who has also informed Assistant Military and Naval Attachés who will doubtless inform their departments.89
I was told yesterday by a usually well-informed American that he had been reliably informed that there were two groups of high ranking naval officers, namely, the political to which Admirals Nomura and Toyoda belong and the service to which Admiral Oikawa belongs. Oikawa, then Navy Minister, desired to intercept American oil shipments to Vladivostok and risk war with us but was dissuaded [Page 585] by a General Suzuki, presumably President of Cabinet Planning Board.
(Sent to the Department, repeated to Chungking, Shanghai, Tokyo.)
- The substance of the above report was also transmitted to the Department of State by Capt. R. E. Schuirmann of the Office of Naval Operations on November 13.↩