711.94/2503: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 1—3:02 p.m.]
1874. For the Secretary and Under Secretary. 1. During the past few days I have talked with several prominent Japanese, most of whom appear to be already familiar with the terms of the Department’s recent draft proposal51 and some of whom have been in direct personal touch with the Foreign Minister. They generally reflect a pessimistic reaction, emphasizing what they purport to regard as the unconciliatory “tone” of the draft and the difficulty of bridging over the Japanese and American positions. They all, however, appear to desire continuance of the Washington conversations.
2. In all recent talks I have emphasized my personal view that the American draft conveys a broad-gauge objective proposal of the highest statesmanship, offering to Japan in effect the very desiderata for which she has ostensibly been fighting and a reasonable and peaceful way of achieving her constantly publicized needs. The Japanese Government is now in a position to mould public opinion to the justified conception that Japan can now achieve without force of arms the chief purposes for which she has hitherto allegedly been fighting. These unofficial views have been indirectly conveyed to the Foreign Minister. I have furthermore expressed astonishment that the Prime Minister, at this critical moment, should have seen fit to deliver so bellicose an address as his speech yesterday,52 and I have indicated the serious and deplorable impression which that speech is bomid to exert on the American Government and people.
3. Tonight’s newspapers report that the Cabinet at its meeting today, while realizing the difficulty of adjusting the respective positions of the two countries, nevertheless determined to continue the Washington conversations.
- November 26, Foreign Relations, Japan, 1931–1941, vol. ii, pp. 766 and 768.↩
- See telegram No. 1869, December 1, 3 p.m., from the Ambassador in Japan, ibid., p. 148.↩