710.11/2543: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 16—6:40 a.m.]
564. Following is text of unofficial remarks of Foreign Office spokesman commenting on the President’s recent statement concerning the Monroe Doctrine:
“Regardless of whether or not President Roosevelt’s statement on the Monroe Doctrine constitutes a new definition and modification of that doctrine the fact cannot be disputed that the attitude taken by the President and the Secretary of State of the United States on the question shows that the United States Government has converted the primarily passive and defense character of the Monroe Doctrine to a positive one.
Hitherto the Monroe Doctrine has been applied to prevent the extension of the European system of government to the Americas as well as to forestall aggression of outside powers on the Western Hemisphere. Now it is claimed that ‘the United States very sincerely believes and maintains the position that the administration or ultimate disposition of such islands and territorial possessions should be and is properly a question to be decided by and among all of the republics of the American Hemisphere.’
If this is the real attitude of the United States, it naturally coincides with the idea of regional structure which has recently been suggested by Mr. Arita, the Foreign Minister. In fact President Roosevelt declared that ‘the United States Government wants to see and thinks there should be application of a Monroe Doctrine in Europe and Asia similar to the interpretation and application of those principles in this hemisphere.’
[Page 401]Here we cannot help feeling that Mr. Hull discussed ‘the’ Monroe Doctrine while Mr. Roosevelt dwelt upon ‘a’ Monroe Doctrine applicable to all geographical areas including the Americas. This we wish to take note of with special interest.”
The press in commenting on Mr. Suma’s remarks took the view that the President had meant in his statement that the United States recognized that the disposition of territories in Asia was to be solved by Asiatic nations and such territory included not only French Indochina and the Dutch East Indies but all territory within the Asiatic sphere.
Sent Department via Shanghai. Shanghai please repeat to Peiping, Chungking.