711.94/2490b: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Japan (Grew)
796. For the Ambassador and the Counselor only. Following the Japanese proposals of November 20,20 the Department gave consideration to a number of alternate proposals and countersuggestions or combinations thereof which suggested themselves to the Department for possible presentation to the Japanese Government. At one time the Department considered the question of presenting to the Japanese Government simultaneously with the proposal which was actually given them on November 26,21 an alternate plan for a temporary modus vivendi. The draft under consideration at that time called for a temporary modus vivendi to be in effect for a period of 3 months during which time conversations would continue toward the working out of a comprehensive peaceful settlement covering the entire Pacific area. At the end of the period of the term of the modus vivendi both Governments would confer at the request of either to determine whether the extension of the modus vivendi was justified by the prospects of reaching a settlement of the sort sought.
The draft modus vivendi which we were considering contained mutual pledges of peaceful intent, a reciprocal undertaking not to make armed advancement in northeastern Asia and the northern Pacific area, southeast Asia and the southern Pacific area, an undertaking by Japan to withdraw its forces from southern French Indochina, to limit those in northern Indochina to the number there on July 26, 1941, which number should not be subject to replacement and Japan should not in any case send additional naval, military or air forces to Indochina. This Government would undertake to modify its freezing orders to the extent to permit exports from the United States to Japan of bunkers and ship supplies, food products and pharmaceuticals with certain qualifications, raw cotton up to $600,000 monthly, a small amount of petroleum within categories now permitted general export on a monthly basis for civilian needs, the proportionate amount to be exported from this country to be determined after consultation with the British and Dutch Governments. The United States would permit imports in general provided that raw silk constitutes at least two-thirds in value of such imports. The proceeds of such imports would be available for the purchase of the designated exports from the United States and for the payment of interest and principal of Japanese obligations within the United States. This Government would undertake to approach the British, Dutch and Australian Governments on the question of their taking similar economic measures.
[Page 684]At a certain point in our consideration of the draft modus vivendi the representatives in Washington of the British, Dutch, Australian and Chinese Governments were consulted.
After careful consideration of all factors in the situation within the United States and in the general world situation, including the reaction and replies of the Governments mentioned above, it was decided that we should drop the draft modus vivendi which we had had under consideration. That draft modus vivendi was not handed to the Japanese, and the fact that this Government had considered a modus vivendi was not mentioned to them.
The Department has informed you in separate telegrams22 of the documents handed the Japanese Ambassador on November 26 and of the conversation which took place on that date.23
- Foreign Relations. Japan, 1931–1941, vol. ii, p. 755.↩
- ibid., pp. 766 and 768.↩
- Telegrams not printed.↩
- In telegram No. 277, November 28, 7 p.m., the Department informed the Ambassador in China of the modus vivendi matter (711.94/2490c).↩