711.94/2210
Memorandum by the Secretary of State
The Ambassador of Japan called at my apartment. He said that since talking with me earlier in the day he had received a despatch from his Government relative to the meeting of responsible heads of the two Governments. The President had indicated if such meeting was to be held, that it might be arranged for about October fifteenth. The Ambassador said that his Government desired to have this meeting earlier than October fifteenth, which he said in all frankness is due to the coming reported military and other conferences with Soviet Russia in Moscow at an earlier date and probably in the first part of September. He indicated that his Government was afraid that some agreements might be entered into at Moscow that would be detrimental to Japan and to Japan’s plans and policies. I replied to his general suggestion by saying that the non-aggression pact between Japan and Soviet Russia would undoubtedly give Japan all of the assurance of Russia’s peaceful attitude towards Japan as Japan could desire. The Ambassador laughed very heartily at this. I said further that I did not know just when the meeting at Moscow was to be held or the complexion of its personnel. I made no promises of any kind in regard to a meeting of responsible heads of the American and Japanese Governments or when it would be held, if it should be held at all.