711.94/1359: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Japan (Grew)
367. In view of reports appearing in the American press that preliminary conversations are taking place at Tokyo looking toward the negotiation of a new commercial treaty and that you are “fully acquainted with the concessions” which this Government would make, I read at my press conference today the statement quoted below, saying that I was making the statement for the purpose of clarification in view of confusion which seems to exist with regard to the problem of relations between the United States and Japan.
“The American Ambassador in Tokyo is, and has been over a period of many years, constantly in communication with the Japanese Foreign Office on the subject of relations between the United States and Japan and problems which arise in connection therewith.
There are not going on either in Tokyo or in Washington negotiations in regard to commercial treaty relations between the two countries.
This Government has not instructed Ambassador Grew on the subject of any specific feature of possible future treaty relations.
The Government of the United States has repeatedly made clear that such matters will depend upon developments.
This Government is, of course, giving attention to every development and every fact bearing upon relations between the two countries and known to it, and is carefully studying all angles of the various problems presented.”
Copies of the statement were subsequently supplied to the press.