740.0011 P. W./316
Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs (Hamilton) to the Acting Secretary of State 63
Mr. Welles: Referring to Mr. Grew’s strictly confidential telegram 1103, July 27, 7 p.m., I understand that the Japanese Ambassador has now asked for an appointment to see you.
In thinking over the question whether it would be advisable to mention to the Japanese Ambassador that the Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs on July 27 told Mr. Grew that he (the Foreign Minister) had not received from the Japanese Ambassador here a report of the President’s proposal, I feel that there are two strong reasons against your making mention of this subject to the Japanese Ambassador.
- (1)
- It seems to me that there is no need for such action. The Japanese Foreign Minister now knows through Mr. Grew of the President’s proposal and the Japanese Foreign Minister certainly has his own means of checking with Admiral Nomura in regard to the question of Admiral Nomura’s making report of the President’s proposal.
- (2)
- I fear that mention by you of the report we have that the Japanese Foreign Minister had not received a report from Admiral Nomura would be construed by the Japanese as weakness and over-eagerness on our part.
- Notation by the Adviser on Political Relations (Hornbeck): “Concur”; by the Under Secretary: “I disagree.”↩