711.94/1687: Telegram
The Consul at Shanghai (Butrick) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 8—6:20 a.m.]
754. Department’s 335, July 30 [31], 6 p.m. New York Times representative informs me that the representative of Domei and of the Osaka Mainichi told him on July 31 that they as well as other Japanese news agencies had received radio instructions that they should emphasize every possible anti-American angle of news from China. Another reliable source has learned that the local office of the Osaka Mainichi received a letter on August 1 or 2 from the president of the company, Mr. Shingoro Takaishi, confirming those instructions and explaining them roughly as follows:
In future Japan will develop closer relations with Italy and Germany. In the past Japan has Sought close relations with the United States and Great Britain. But since some of Japan’s aims conflict with the interests of these countries these close relations seem impossible and the attempt has been unsuccessful. Japanese newspapers, therefore, must hereafter write their stories so as to acquaint the Japanese people with the country’s new policy of closer relations with Italy and Germany and cause them to have an understanding of the necessity for that change.
It is understood that Mr. Takaishi has previously had the reputation of being pro-American. It seems significant that various Japanese agencies received these instructions at the same time.
Results of the new policy will no doubt be most apparent in Japan. The Japanese press in Shanghai has already been strongly anti-American for some time. A Japanese-controlled Chinese newspaper of July 31 contained a scurrilous attack on New York Times representative Durdin, calling him a paid agent of the Chungking Government and a swindler of the American people.
Sent to the Department.
Repeated to Chungking, Peiping. Code text by air mail to Tokyo.