711.008 North Pacific/239: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Japan (Grew)
359. Your 656, December 18, 8 p.m. You may inform the Foreign Minister as follows:
The Department appreciates the reasons given for publication in Japan of the Japanese reply before the reply is published in Washington. However, the Department considers it highly important that this Government be given an opportunity before publication in Tokyo to consider the text of the reply with reference to its possible effect upon public opinion in this country. After such consideration it is the present belief of the Department that publication of the reply should preferably be made simultaneously in Tokyo and Washington.
For your information and discretionary use in conversation with the Foreign Minister, the Department contemplates that it may be necessary, in order to satisfy American interests concerned that suitable representations have been made, to publish here concurrently with the Japanese reply the memorandum presented to the Foreign Minister.