793.94 Conference/270: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Japan (Grew)
305. Your 549, November 18, 6 p.m. On November 18 Lindsay brought to my attention the conversation between Eden and Yoshida as indicated in paragraph 1 of your telegram under reference. Lindsay made inquiry on behalf of the British Government whether, in case it should appear that the Japanese attitude might be favorable, the United States Government would join in offering Anglo-American good offices, and he stated that if the United States Government should approve such action, the British Government would issue instructions to its Ambassador at Tokyo to make with you a simultaneous approach to the Japanese Government.
When Lindsay called, he apparently had not been informed of the suggestions made to the British Government by Craigie as set forth in paragraph numbered 4 of your telegram under reference.
We have informed Lindsay this morning that the conversation which you had with Hirota was considerably less specific as to a Japanese desire to have American and British aid in bringing about negotiations than were the conversation which Yoshida had with Eden or a conversation which Suma had here with Wilson36 and that the United States Government is of the opinion that an essential first step would be an attempt to clarify the Japanese Government’s attitude. We also referred to the suggestion made by Craigie to his Government and to Craigie’s conception in regard to point (b) of that suggestion. [Page 700] We said that we considered the procedure envisaged in that conception as not wise because the intermediaries would be called upon to transmit terms inconsistent with the Nine Power Treaty and because of the implication that the intermediaries were pressing such terms. We suggested that the informal inquiry to be made by Craigie of Horinouchi be limited to an inquiry covering point (a) of his suggestion. We also expressed the view that, in case Craigie should receive an affirmative reply on point (a), the making of subsequent specific inquiries individually by Craigie and by you of Hirota might serve to obtain the authoritative and necessary clarification as to whether the Japanese Government would be disposed to consider favorably tenders of good offices, if made by the American and British Governments. We informed Lindsay also that if the steps suggested above should convince the United States and British Governments that the Japanese Government sincerely desires to avail itself of the good offices of the United States and of Great Britain for the purpose of entering upon conversations with the Chinese Government, it would then be necessary for the two Governments to confer as to the form in which the offer of good offices might be made both to Japan and to China. We pointed out that in our opinion it would be necessary to find some formula which would indicate clearly that terms of settlement could not be recommended to China by either the United States Government or the British Government which would be inconsistent with the Nine Power Treaty.
In the event that the British Government instructs Craigie to make an inquiry of Horinouchi covering point (a) of Craigie’s suggestion and in the event that Horinouchi should reply that the Japanese attitude would be favorable, you are authorized to make with Craigie but acting separately and individually specific oral inquiries of Hirota. In the event that Hirota should make affirmative replies to both you and Craigie, it would then be necessary for this Government to confer with the British Government as to the nature of the tender of good offices and as to the procedure involved.
This matter is of course highly confidential and I desire to be kept fully informed of developments by urgent cable.
- See memorandum of November 16, vol. iv, p. 194.↩