711.94/1487: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 3—3:14 p.m.]
301. In view of all the widespread speculation in the press concerning Mr. Sayre’s conversations with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the following communiqué was agreed upon by Mr. Sayre and Mr. Arita and was released to the press at 7 p.m. today [May 3]:
“The recent entirely informal talks between the Foreign Minister and the American High Commissioner to the Philippine Islands have been aimed merely at clarifying certain aspects of Japanese-American relations. They were not planned in advance and they have developed normally as a result of Mr. Sayre’s visit to Japan, and in conjunction with the conversations of Ambassador Grew with the Japanese Government. From the point of clarification they have proved helpful.”