Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1941, The Far East, Volume IV

711.94/20057/14

Draft Statement Prepared for the Secretary of State²⁹

undated

On Saturday, March 8, the Japanese Ambassador called on me and we had a conversation of a general character. During the conversation I referred to the fact that I understood that a number of his compatriots were desirous of making contributions to better understanding between our two Governments; that I deeply appreciate the purposes of such responsible and fine individuals; and that on official questions and problems between the American and Japanese Governments I can deal only with and through the duly authorized Ambassador of Japan. In other words, I could not take up with individual citizens of a foreign country matters pending between their Government and my Government unless their Ambassador assumed a responsibility to that end.

During the conversation I told the Japanese Ambassador that I hoped he had in mind something definite which might offer a practical approach to consideration of the course and attitude of the Japanese Government. The Ambassador in reply said that his Government would be very glad to effect peace arrangements with China, but when I inquired as to details the Ambassador merely indicated that his adviser, Colonel Iwakuro, was on his way here and that he had details in regard to the whole Chinese-Japanese situation.

In the light of the foregoing, the Ambassador’s compatriots may wish to await the arrival here of Colonel Iwakuro. If they wish otherwise, I will be ready to consider, in case the Japanese Ambassador should introduce his compatriots to me either in person or by written communication, officially or privately as the Ambassador might prefer, talking with them myself or to arrange for someone in the Department of State or someone outside the Department of State to talk with them, all this in order that they might have full opportunity to present their views.

I would understand of course that any action taken by the Japanese Ambassador to this end would be, as was our conversation on Saturday, on the basis of an equal and joint initiative of himself and myself.

29. The Chief of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs (Hamilton) on March 17 wrote as follows:

    “Pursuant to the Secretary’s request that Mr. Hornbeck and I give consideration to the question of what the Secretary should next say on this matter to the Postmaster General, I prepared the attached statement as an indication of the substance of what the Secretary might say orally. I handed this statement to the Secretary on March 10 (?), at which time the Secretary informed me that the Postmaster General had told him that the Japanese with regard to whom the Postmaster General had spoken had been in touch with the Japanese Ambassador following his talk of March 8 with the Secretary and that the Japanese seemed satisfied with regard to the conversation of March 8.

    “I then commented to the Secretary that in these circumstances there was probably no need for the Secretary to say anything further at the moment to the Postmaster General. The attached draft was, however, left with the Secretary for his perusal.”