890.1115A/67
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Chief of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs (Hamilton)
Mr. Morishima, Counselor of the Japanese Embassy, called at his request. He said that the Embassy had just received instructions from the Japanese Foreign Office requesting that the Embassy make inquiry of the Department in regard to the instructions which the Department of State had, according to the press, sent to American diplomatic and consular officers in various parts of the Far East in regard to the question of withdrawal of American citizens. I inquired whether Mr. Morishima had not seen the press reports in regard to this matter. Mr. Morishima replied in the affirmative and said that his Government was interested in receiving information as to the accuracy of the press reports. I replied that the statements in the press covering information communicated by the Department to representatives of the press was substantially correct. I said that the Department had, in view of the continuance of an abnormal situation in the Far East, issued instructions to American diplomatic and consular officers in China, in Japan, in Hong Kong, and in Indochina to suggest to American citizens, especially women and children and men who are not detained by essential considerations, that they come out of disturbed areas. I said that the Department’s instructions constituted the taking of precautionary steps for the safety of American citizens and were in general conformity with action previously taken in the Far East and in different parts of Europe.
Mr. Morishima said that in the Embassy’s telegram from the Japanese Foreign Office there was contained the statement that the Japanese Foreign Office considered that the steps being taken by this Government toward suggesting the withdrawal of certain categories, of American citizens might add to the general feeling of uneasiness. Mr. Morishima continued that he understood that either the Japanese Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs98 or the Foreign Minister99 had discussed this phase of the matter with Mr. Grew. I made no comment.