Office of the Historian

711.94/2515: Telegram

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

Tokyo, December 4, 1941—9 p.m.
[Received December 4—8:20 p.m.]

1892. Domei report issued this afternoon too late for afternoon papers gives opinions of well-informed Japanese observers as follows. After stating that Secretary Hull’s announcement63 of certain details of Japanese-American negotiations [is] apparently designed for internal effect in United States [it] nonetheless raises doubts as to United States honesty in current negotiations, especially as issued at most delicate juncture of Japanese-American situation, with no sign conclusion despite passage of 17 days since resumption negotiations on arrival [of] Kurusu. Hull’s statement, together with recent strengthening military anti-Japanese encirclement camp, creates a situation which demands utmost caution as statement is considered as one of various preparatory measures being undertaken [by] United States Government with a view to any contingency in connection with outcome negotiations and an attempt to eliminate any pro-Japanese sentiment among American people who are not yet necessarily ready to keep step with their government in strong policy against Japan. Hull’s reference various principles to which United States subscribe indicates United States still scheming to oppose Japan on old obsolete principles incompatible with Far Eastern situation even in the past.

Domei cites same observers as of the opinion “it is utterly impossible for Japan to accept that which is stipulated in the American document of November 2664 and that the logical conclusion is that such a document cannot serve as a basis for further Japanese-American negotiations”.

In conclusion report states that observers in Tokyo note that despite the fact that two conferences have taken place since the presentation of the American document65 there has been no evidence of any progress and that the unilateral disclosures by Secretary Hull of the negotiations have made the situation still more grave.

Grew
  1. Apparently a report of the press conference on December 3.↩
  2. Foreign Relations, Japan, 1931–1941, vol. ii, p. 768.↩
  3. See memoranda of November 27 and December 1, ibid., pp. 770 and 772.↩