800.79611 Pangborn-Herndon Flight/133: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Forbes) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 15—2:27 a.m.]
145. Referring to your telegram No. 162 of September 14, noon, I had a long personal conference with Herndon-Pangborn this morning reviewing efforts made by the Embassy on their behalf. Although friendly I was very definite and did not mince words in expressing disapproval of such of their activities as have been unwise and unfair. Herndon expressed himself much enlightened. I made an appeal to their better citizenship to use every effort to allay any resentment against Japan incidental to their visit here. I have sent letter to the Foreign Office “expressing the hope” that the permit be granted but avoided stating it as a request of the Government. They replied by telephone asking influence to be used to postpone the flight until spring. This request I gave verbally to Herndon-Pangborn requesting a reply in writing, which has come in, insisting that they are not in a position to delay and requesting permit for immediate flying, which we are given to believe will be granted shortly.