711.94/1518: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Japan (Grew)
180. For the Ambassador and Counselor. Your 400, June 3, noon, paragraphs 7, 8 and 9. You are authorized to make an oral approach [Page 346] such as you suggest. We think it would be helpful for you to stress the point that there can be no fundamentally friendly relations between our two countries so long as the Japanese continue to endeavor to achieve various positive national objectives by use of force. This should not be qualified by saying “in China”. We think it desirable that you omit specific mention of “involving a discontinuance of past and present interferences with American rights and interests in China” and specific mention of “possibilities of helpful economic and financial cooperation”. As we see it, the first of these is inherent in the broad concept of relinquishing force as an instrument of national policy, the second is implied in the concept of opening a new chapter in relationships; and, toward avoiding misunderstandings or possible publicity stressing chosen points out of context, we believe that the whole approach should be in broad, not in specific, terms.
To safeguard against any possible inference that this Government or its Ambassador is leaning toward a procedure of compromise or abandonment, it might be well for you incidentally to point out that, after a long period of hopeful thinking and diplomatic effort toward peace by processes of disarmament, the people of this country are now convinced that certain European governments have made their countries a menace to civilization and to this country’s security, and this country is engaged in a program of armament for defense and security on a huge scale.
We would prefer that your approach be as on your own initiative and as expressive of your own thought.
In your preparing, you might review, for background, my reply of March 3, 193450 to Mr. Hirota’s communication of February 21, 1934 to me.51