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

711.94/254029/35

The Secretary of State to President Roosevelt ⁹⁷

[Washington,] November 26, 1941.

With reference to our two proposals prepared for submission to the Japanese Government, namely:

(1) A proposal in the way of a draft agreement for a broad basic peaceful settlement for the Pacific area,⁹⁸ which is henceforth to be made a part of the general conversations now going on and to be carried on, if agreeable to both Governments, with a view to a general agreement on this subject.

(2) The second proposal is really closely connected with the conversations looking toward a general agreement, which is in the nature of a modus vivendi⁹⁹ intended to make more feasible the continuance of the conversations.

In view of the opposition of the Chinese Government and either the half-hearted support or the actual opposition of the British, the Netherlands and the Australian Governments, and in view of the wide publicity of the opposition and of the additional opposition that will naturally follow through utter lack of an understanding of the vast importance and value otherwise of the modus vivendi, without in any way departing from my views about the wisdom and the benefit of this step to all of the countries opposed to the aggressor nations who are interested in the Pacific area, I desire very earnestly to recommend that at this time I call in the Japanese Ambassadors and hand to them a copy of the comprehensive basic proposal for a general peaceful settlement, and at the same time withhold the modus vivendi proposal.

Cordell Hull

97. Penciled notation on file copy by the Secretary of State: “Delivered orally & agreed to by the President—Hull”.
98. For text, see Foreign Relations, Japan, 1931–1941, vol. ii, p. 768.
99. For final draft of November 25, see p. 661.