711.94/2139: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Japan (Grew)
Washington, June 6,
1941—6 p.m.
312. For the Ambassador and the Counselor only. Your 765, June 4, 10 p.m.
- 1.
- The Department notes with interest the method employed for delivery of the purported message.
- 2.
- It is suggested that when you receive messages relating to the Tripartite Pact of the purport of the one under reference you in your discretion reply along lines of the Department’s 280, May 17, 6 p.m., by way of making clear that this Government is resolved to exercise its inalienable right of protection and self-defense and to take whatever measures it may consider essential thereto; and that the taking by this country of any other course, viewed in the light of the experience of some fifteen countries in Europe which were told that they would not be molested, would be absurd, futile and suicidal from the standpoint of reasonable precautions for the safety of this country. You might point out that requests or intimations that the United States desist from a course of protection and self-defense in resistance to movements of conquest would in actual effect range those making such requests or intimations on the side of those favoring movements of aggression by force. It would be suicidal for this country to allow Hitler to get control of the seas and it does not propose to sit still and not resist until he thus succeeds, and therefore the resistance of the U[nited] S[tates] on the seas and by aiding Great Britain, is the very essence of self defence.29 As stated, this Government’s course is based squarely on the inalienable right of self-protection and self-defense.
Hull
- Sentence added in Mr. Hull’s handwriting.↩