711.94/12–741
Memorandum by Mr. Joseph W. Ballantine to the Secretary of State
Mr. Secretary: It is suggested that when next the Japanese Ambassador calls79 you may wish to offer comment along lines as follows:
It will be recalled that last spring when the Japanese Ambassador first offered a proposal for a Pacific settlement as a basis for informal exploratory conversations we were given to understand that the Japanese Government shared the view of this Government that such a Pacific settlement should be founded squarely on principles of peace. Proceeding on the assumption that the Japanese Government desired to adopt courses of peace, this Government entered into informal exploratory conversations on the basis of the Japanese Government’s proposal and with great patience endeavored to point out the respects in which in the opinion of this Government the Japanese Government’s proposal was inconsistent with courses of peace. The United States has not asked for anything for itself in connection with such a settlement. It has asked only that such a settlement as might be arrived at be wholly in harmony with principles which this Government considers the only sound basis for worthwhile international relations. Under such circumstances it is obvious that the Government of the United States has not been in position to make concessions in the way of bargaining. It has felt, however, that the program it offers is one which would provide peace and stability under law and justice for the entire Pacific area. The Japanese Government has been representing that, whereas the United States has been maintaining an unyielding attitude in the conversations, the Japanese Government [Page 729] has been adopting a conciliatory attitude and has offered the utmost by way of concessions to meet the position of the United States. This Government is unable to perceive, however, that the Japanese Government has budged in any material respect from its original position. This position, as the United States sees it, amounts to an insistence upon obtaining a complete victor’s peace over China—that is to say, upon complete realization of the very objectives which brought on Japan’s conflict with China four and one-half years ago.
The Japanese Government maintains that it cannot agree to a proposal which would involve withdrawal of Japanese support from the Wang Ching-wei regime. The Government of the United States finds itself unable to reconcile such a position with the express desire of the Japanese Government that the President exercise his good offices in bringing the Chinese Government at Chungking into direct negotiations with the Japanese Government. Under these circumstances the Government of the United States is at a loss to understand what purpose the Japanese Government has in view in entering into negotiations with the Chinese Government at Chungking.
The Japanese Government makes it clear that it is still intent upon compensation from China for Japan’s “sacrifices” in its conflict with China and upon realization of the so-called “New Order in East Asia” and the “Co-prosperity Sphere”. Such concepts in the opinion of this Government are utterly at variance with this Government’s concept of what should constitute the basis of a Pacific settlement if there is to be assured a stable peace under law, order and justice in the Pacific area.
- For final meeting on December 7, see Foreign Relations, Japan, 1931–1941, vol. ii, p. 786. For statement on December 7 by the Secretary of State regarding the Japanese attack on the United States, see ibid., p. 793.↩