Office of the Historian

894.30/108: Telegram

The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State

Tokyo, February 18, 1937—4 p.m.
[Received February 18—7:17 a.m.]

58. 1. In response to interpellation in the Lower House on February 16 Navy Minister Yonai stated incidentally “I shall refrain from launching such naval expansion as would stir other powers and I have no intention of maintaining strength equal to the strongest naval powers in the world”. The house applauded this statement.

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2. Last night former Ambassador Debuchi took occasion to call my attention to the significance of this statement.

Grew