711.94/845: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 3—7:41 a.m.]
149. 1. Yesterday I had a long informal talk with Hirota, the new Foreign Minister. In order to avoid the usual publicity in connection with my visits to the Foreign Office, the talk took place at the residence of the Minister, who stated that he would be glad to arrange our future talks in a similar manner.
2. Obviously, the Foreign Minister is seeking ways and means for the improvement of Japanese-American relations and has under consideration the desirability of sending to the United States a good-will mission for the purpose of sounding out American public opinion and of “explaining Japan to the American public”. When he requested my views I said that in my opinion there was not any good reason for such a mission because the American public is not hostile to Japan in spite of certain differences in opinion, and that I thought individual [Page 124] contacts made by distinguished Japanese visitors such as Prince Tokugawa (who on his return from England expects to visit the United States) would accomplish more than any formal good-will mission. Later, I shall convey to Hirota the fact that organized foreign propaganda is viewed with distaste by the American public.
3. The irresponsible anti-American utterances of the Japanese press which are cabled frequently to the American press, I told Hirota, are among the principal factors militating against good relations. I said these utterances created the feeling in the minds of the American public that Japan is hostile to the United States and inevitably raised a feeling of mutual suspicion and distrust. I expressed the belief that his aims could best be accomplished by giving the desired background and orientation to the Japanese press. I was asked pointedly by Hirota whether in the Japanese press I had observed any anti-American comment since he took office. My reply to his question was in the negative.
4. It was asserted by Hirota that he particularly desired to convey to the press and public of America his own policy and his wish to develop closer relations between the United States and Japan. He was sorry he had been painted unjustly as a rabid nationalist by certain sections of the American press. I made the suggestion that he would find helpful a more personal contact with the American press correspondents in Tokyo and offered for that purpose to arrange an informal dinner on October 12 at the Embassy. My offer was accepted with obvious pleasure.
5. Reports in the press of a contemplated good-will mission to the United States are given out by the Foreign Office as a trial balloon. Among other reasons, such a mission, in my opinion should, at least at the present time, be discouraged because: (a) At present the American public is far more occupied with domestic problems than with any foreign questions; (b) in certain quarters in the United States a latent distrust of Japan exists which organized Japanese propaganda would enhance.
6. At present it appears that my relations with the new Foreign Minister are going to be more satisfactory than it was possible to develop with his predecessor Count Uchida, and that Hirota is groping for advice and is open to suggestions of a constructive nature. Therefore, suggestions or instructions by way of guidance from the Department would be helpful for my future talks with the Minister for Foreign Affairs.