711.94/2422: Telegram

The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State

1765. Department’s 716, November 5, 7 p.m. Meeting the Foreign Minister this afternoon informally at the Soviet Embassy’s reception, I took occasion to offer the informal comment authorized. I furthermore said that the truculent and aggressive substance and tone of the Japanese press toward the United States at present was, in my personal opinion, doing immense harm to American-Japanese relations.87 Mr. Toshi Go, editor of the Japan Times and Advertiser, later told me that the Foreign Minister had repeated to him what I had said. [Page 574] In the last few days I have said the same thing to several prominent Japanese. Matsumoto, head of Domei, told me tonight, after a similar talk with him, that we may expect an immediate change in the tone of the Japanese press.

Grew
  1. See also memorandum by the Ambassador in Japan, November 7, 1941, Foreign Relations, Japan, 1931–1941, vol. ii, p. 705.