793.94 Conference/143: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Japan (Grew)
277. In a strictly confidential telegram of October 30th Ambassador at London reports that Japanese Ambassador informed him on that day that the American and British Ambassadors [at] Tokyo had been informed by the Japanese Foreign Office that the Japanese Government desired to put an end to the hostilities in the Far East and would like to discuss the matter with American and British Representatives.
We have telegraphed London that no such approach has been made to us either at Tokyo or Washington.
The Japanese Ambassador further suggested to Bingham the possibility that Japanese representatives might meet with a sub-committee [Page 129] of the Conference at Brussels, especially they would be disposed to do so if America and Great Britain were represented on the subcommittee and if such meeting could precede any action by the Conference as a whole in the direction of a definite finding. Bingham telephoned Eden and found the Japanese Ambassador had made the same statement to him the preceding day.
In the course of the conversation Yoshida told Bingham that public sentiment in Japan has turned against the army. The people feel that the army and navy have gone too far and want the war to end. They are influenced by heavy taxation involved in the maintenance of the struggle. The struggle has cost much more than expected and Chinese resistance has been much stiffer. All of these factors have had their effect upon Japanese public sentiment to such an extent that the desire of the Japanese people, which the Government shares, is to cease hostilities as soon as practicable.
In view of your 505, October 30, 7 p.m. we would appreciate your comment both on the suggestion and on Yoshida’s analysis of public opinion.