711.94/2624
Memorandum by the Ambassador in Japan (Grew)
With reference to Mr. Terasaki’s expression of regret, during his conversation with Mr. Grew on August 29, over the unfortunate publicity which had been given in Washington to the delivery by Ambassador Nomura of a message from Prince Konoye to President Roosevelt, Mr. Grew on August 30 conveyed to Mr. Terasaki for communication to the Minister for Foreign Affairs the following excerpt from the Secretary of State’s press conference on August 28 (Radio Bulletin No. 205, August 28, 1941):
“A correspondent remarked that the Japanese Ambassador when he left the White House said that he had delivered a personal message from the Head of his Government to the President. The Correspondent inquired whether the Secretary could say anything concerning the nature of the message. The Secretary replied that he thought he should leave that for the Ambassador to handle with the press as his Government desired it to be handled and that he had not conferred with him on that point. Asked whether the delivery of the message eased the situation in the Far East Mr. Hull said that that was something [Page 583] he could not undertake to speak about definitely. He pointed out that he had remarked to the press as he came out of the White House that there had been a general interchange, of information and views relating to affairs pending between the two Governments, that the conversation was of interest and that there may be another or others later. To a question whether they were looking toward some sort of a written agreement or a verbal arrangement Mr. Hull said that he could not tell at this time. Asked if a letter would be sent in answer to the letter which the Japanese Ambassador delivered today the Secretary replied in the affirmative saying that naturally he assumed the President will make due acknowledgment. To a question whether in the exchange of ideas this morning the position of both countries was again made plain he said that he did not think he could say more than what he had on that precise point. In response to an inquiry whether the message from the Japanese Government could be described as anything in the nature of a warning to us the Secretary said that he would not be in a position to go into either the pros or cons of the discussion that took place and as to the communication from the Prime Minister to the President that was as he had said a matter between the correspondents and the Ambassador of Japan.”