811.001 Roosevelt Visit/24: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 18—1:45 a.m.]
128. Department’s 101, June 15, 8 p.m. Owing to Hirota’s absence from Tokyo over the week end I carried out the Department’s instructions at the earliest moment this morning. The Minister said that the press had obviously been very desirous of arranging a meeting in Honolulu and that press despatches from the United States had tended to keep speculation alive. I said I presumed that he had in mind the unreliable despatches of Kawakami to which he assented. The Minister said that he had inquired of Saito as to the basis of the rumors and that having received a reply to the effect that the President’s trip is to be solely recreational he is taking steps to put an end to the local press speculations. The Department’s views were explicitly set forth by me in the conversation.