740.0011 Pacific War/620
Dr. E. Stanley Jones to President Roosevelt 63
Dear President Roosevelt: Although I have had a good many conversations with various people, including the Japanese and the Chinese Ambassadors and the State Department, regarding a possible basis of peace in the Pacific, I have refrained from attempting to see you personally, for I know how pressed you are. But one matter has now arisen which I would like to pass on to you for your consideration. Perhaps you have it already under consideration; if so, I would reinforce it, if possible.
The Japanese Ambassador tells me that it is psychologically impossible for Japan to withdraw completely from China after four years of war with nothing to show for it as a result.
Some way must be found to help her over that psychological difficulty. Would it not be possible for you to send a Commission of three to the Far East to try to find a way of settlement?
The sending of the Commission would show that you recognized Japan’s difficulty, that you were anxious for a way out other than war. It would also amount to an armistice, would give the situation time to cool. It might find the basis of a just settlement.
As I see it, the crux of the China settlement is the joint defense of North China against Communism. My suggestion was that Japan withdraw all troops from China, including North China, and that China then make a treaty with Japan that in case she is attacked in the North by a third party, Japan would come to her aid. This would give China political and territorial integrity and it would give Japan [Page 558] a joint defense. The Japanese Ambassador said that this would open a possibility and that he would agree to it personally, but was not sure whether Tokio would.
It seems to me that a Commission of three men of high ability, of outstanding character, of broad sympathies and insight, might find a solution. I commend it to you as a possibility.
I am enclosing a memorandum64 which I sent to the Australian Minister after conversations with him.
Assuring you of my continued prayers for you that you may find God’s will for this nation,
Yours very sincerely,