711.94/2624
Memorandum by the Ambassador in Japan (Grew)
Mr. Terasaki called me by telephone this afternoon to inform me that both Prince Konoye and the Minister for Foreign Affairs wished to retract that portion of the Foreign Minister’s message conveyed to me last night by Mr. Terasaki which dealt with the statement which the Japanese Government would be forced to publish in the event that the projected meeting between Prince Konoye and President Roosevelt did not take place. Mr. Terasaki stated that the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister both felt that the statement of intention contained in that portion of the Foreign Minister’s message under reference might be misunderstood by the American Government and that any misunderstanding might have an adverse effect upon the proposed meeting between the Prime Minister and the President.