394.115 Panay/79: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 15—8:15 a.m.]
637. The Associated Press has asked me for statement on the present situation for release in the United States. I have never done this sort of thing before and am doubtful of the wisdom of complying [Page 503] with the request, but the Department may wish to consider, in the light of its analysis of American public opinion, whether a statement from me would serve some useful purpose. If the Department desires that I issue a statement, I would appreciate the Department’s prescribing textually the statement which I am to use. In such a case the following material might be used: the concern of the Japanese nation over the sinking of the Panay has been expressed and is hourly being made known to me by Japanese in many different walks of life in a way which leaves no doubt whatsoever as to the profound and genuine nature of their distress and of their earnest desire that the Panay disaster shall not irretrievably injure Japanese-American friendship. The spontaneous expressions of apology and regret on the part of the Japanese Government, offers of full indemnification, and assurances that occurrences of this kind will be avoided in future, even before we had asked for these things, seem to me to be an accurate criterion of their attitude. Mr. Hirota said to me “I cannot possibly express how badly we feel about the incident and I wish to do everything in my power to maintain good relations with your country”.