711.94/2553: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 7—6:47 a.m.]
1904. On December 5 my British colleague spoke to the Foreign Minister about General Tojo’s speech of November 30 which, coming [Page 728] at a moment when Japan’s foreign relations were so delicate, had made a deplorable impression throughout the world. The Minister replied that he wished to make two points: (1) the translation of the speech in the Japan Times and Advertiser was highly colored and such words as “vengeance” did not appear in the original; (2) the statement had been prepared on Saturday, November 29 by members of the Prime Minister’s staff but, owing to the weekend, it had unfortunately not been possible to contact the Prime Minister himself before the statement was read out at one or two meetings on the following day. The statement had therefore not received the approval of the Prime Minister.