793.94/6644a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Japan (Grew)92
62. 1. Referring to statement in American papers that the Nichi-Nichi has declared editorially that “the statement of Secretary Hull violates the pledge made by President Roosevelt to Viscount Ishii in Washington last May, recognizing Japan as the stabilizing influence of the Far East”, officials of the Department, in reply to inquiry, categorically denied that the President gave any pledge to Viscount Ishii.
2. An American paper, in reporting the denial, states that “It is also pointed out here that any profession of respect for Japan as a stabilizing influence in the Far East would have no reference to the present diplomatic discussion, in which the potentially disturbing influence of Japan as a result of the recently announced Tokio policy has been the subject under consideration.” No such statement as that quoted above was made by the Department.
- The same telegram, May 3 (No. 135), to the Minister in China.↩