Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1940, The Far East, Volume IV

711.94/1581

The Secretary of State to the British Ambassador (Lothian) and the Australian Minister (Casey)⁸⁹

undated

Oral Statement

In reference to the subject matter presented to me by the British Ambassador and the Australian Minister on June 27 and presented in the British Embassy’s aide-mémoire of June 27, both in regard to the situation in the Far East, I may say:

We here are fully cognizant of the difficulties which confront the British Empire in various areas at this time, and the attitude of the American people and the American Government have been clearly shown to be sympathetic and animated by a desire to be helpful and cooperative. I welcome and I appreciate the exposition of British official thought which has been conveyed in the conversation and the aide-mémoire under reference, and I have given very careful thought to the suggestions put forward therein.

The British Government and its representatives in the Far East are, of course, watching every phase of the situation there as it unfolds. So also are this Government and its representatives in the Far East. The British Government entertains the belief that by negotiations with Japan at this time a new agreed settlement of the Far Eastern situation might be arrived at which would safeguard British and American interests in that area. By way of confidential information—This Government, having endeavored and continuing to endeavor to maintain the closest possible contact with the situation in the Far East to the end that it may be cognizant promptly of any willingness on the part of Japan to cooperate with the other powers interested in the Far East on a basis and on lines which would in fact produce a situation wherein the interests of powers other than Japan would be safeguarded, has found no substantial evidence of any such willingness on the part of Japan. Without going into details, the simple fact is that this Government has been exploring with the Japanese Government many aspects of the situation and its problems. All reports which come from the Far East, day by day, of political action and political trends indicate that Japan’s leaders feel that there lies before them an extraordinary opportunity to impose their political will in the Far East and that they intend to pursue that objective wherever they are not confronted with material opposition and obstacles. I see little in the situation warranting expectation or hope that the that the Japanese can be “weaned away” from this objective and the course with they pursuing by offers of intangible concessions or of future material assistance. The United States possesses nothing in the Far East of a tangible character which it might offer and which it might throw into the scales of a negotiation. The United States would not be willing to offer to Japan concessions or assistance at the expense of or to the injury of a third or other powers.

The British government suggests as an alternative that the United States might exert influence by application of material pressures. As a matter of fact, the United States has already influenced and is influencing the situation to some extent by resort to that method. It will be recalled that the British Government has on several occasions suggested to us that we should not go too far in use of that method lest, rather than improving the situation, we make it worse. This Government is carefully weighing every day, in the light of developments in the world situation, the pros and cons of the opportunities presented and the procedures which may be involved toward increasing or relaxing such pressures as may appear advisable from moment to moment.

In our opinion, the alternative procedures which the British Government suggests do not exhaust the possibilities as regards courses which are susceptible of being pursued. There have occurred in the Far East many developments which have involved impairments of the rights and interests of the British Empire, of the United States, and of other countries. These developments have been highly distasteful to the governments and peoples adversely affected by them. The various governments concerned, however, have not resorted, toward combating them, to either of the methods which the British Government now suggests. We all have had to acquiesce in various of them. Acquiescence may be a matter of necessity. Giving of assent is however, quite another matter. In a process of bargaining, if engaged in, that which may be conceded or be given by those powers which are on the defensive will become irrevocable. Future performance, by way of return therefor, is problematical.

In as much as the British Government’s information and this Government’s information regarding the situation in the Far East leads the two Governments respectively to conclusions which do not absolutely coincide, it may be that the British Government would care on its own initiative and responsibility to explore with the Japanese Government the question whether Japan would be prepared at this time to negotiate for a settlement on lines such as the British Government envisages as possible. It goes without saying that the Government of the United States would welcome the termination of the hostilities between China and Japan—on terms which would be consistent with the principles in which this country believes and the position which this Government has consistently maintained, with a settlement which, to be satisfactory, must be fair to all concerned.

I believe that both the British Government and the Japanese Government clearly understand the general position of the United States in regard to problems of the Far East. The attitude of the American people and of the Government of the United States toward Japan, toward China and toward Far Eastern—as toward other—problems rests on and abides in certain fundamental principles among which are: the principle of respect for procedures and conditions of law and order; the principle of respect for international commitments; the principle of modification of commitments and altering situations by peaceful processes; the principle of non-interference by nations in the internal affairs of other nations; the principle of equality of commercial and industrial and opportunities; and the principle of refraining from use of force in prosecution of positive national objectives—If the British Government discovers or if this Government becomes aware of indications that the attitude of Japan has developed or is developing along lines which would cause Japanese negotiators to give sympathetic consideration to these principles, the Government and people of the United States would unquestionably look and act toward pursuit of and multiplication of methods of cooperation in many fields.

89. Copies handed to the British Ambassador and the Australian Minister by the Secretary of State on June 28. A summary of this statement was transmitted to the Ambassador in Japan in telegram No. 232, June 29, 5 p.m., not printed.