711.94/2139: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 4—2:45 p.m.]
765. For the Secretary and the Under Secretary. Embassy’s 757, June 2, 7 p.m. Matsumoto, head of Domei, came to see me this evening as a personal friend and conveyed what purported to be a direct message from Prince Konoye to the effect that no credence should be placed in rumors now circulating in Tokyo of a cleavage between himself and Mr. Matsuoka. The Prime Minister wished me to know that he and the Minister for Foreign Affairs are in accord in matters of foreign policy and that Japan’s policy envisages complete loyalty to the provisions of the Tripartite Treaty. Matsumoto spoke of a recent editorial or article in the Washington Herald alleging that negotiations were being conducted between the United States and Japan and he mentioned also an article in the Washington Post reporting a statement by an American Congressman touching directly or indirectly on such negotiations. He inquired whether there was any truth in these reports. I replied that I was conducting no negotiations whatsoever but that I frequently discussed [Page 253] general and specific questions with Mr. Matsuoka just as Admiral Nomura discussed general and specific questions periodically with the Secretary of State in the interests of American-Japanese relations.
Tokyo is placarded with posters calling on the public to support Mr. Matsuoka. It is not yet [clear?] whether or precisely why he needs such organized support.
The purpose of the Prime Minister in sending me such a message is open to various interpretations. The first thought that unfortunately occurs is to wonder whether efforts to bring about American-Japanese conciliation may be dying on the rocks of premature publicity.