740.0011 Pacific War/2
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Secretary of State
The British Ambassador, accompanied by Mr. N. M. Butler, Counselor of the British Embassy, called at his request. He brought up the question, about which we spoke recently, relating to conferences of experts or others in regard to the aggregate amount of defense forces the countries in the South Sea area, which are threatened by Japan, possess at this time,13 and to discuss the manner in which a common defense against possible Japanese invasion could most effectively be presented without entering into any commitments.
I replied that it would seem that the naval mission in London would have taken up this matter some time ago, and that I would inquire [Page 169] at once whether Admiral Ghormley, who is in London at present, has participated thus far in any such discussions. I then added that, of course, these conferences should be held here or in London at as early a date as possible. The Ambassador agreed. This left the matter to be taken up promptly after hearing from London and in the light of developments there, but the location of the conferences was not determined definitely.
I told the Ambassador that the Navy had been informed of the proposed extension of air service to Singapore.
The Ambassador said that his Government did not know what might take place in connection with the opening of the Burma Road, and, therefore, it could not give him permission to return to London now. There was some repetition of our recent discussion in regard to further steps which this Government is taking in the way of preparing the fleet for any kind of activities, which need not be recited here.
The Ambassador referred to my inquiry of some days ago relating to the extent, if any, to which British business men and the British Government were carrying out a moral embargo against Japan. He proceeded to inform me that from the beginning of the war Great Britain had embargoed scrap iron. I replied that, of course, Great Britain urgently needed scrap iron since the beginning of the war.
- On October 14 Lord Lothian sent to the Secretary of State and to President Roosevelt a statement, not printed, of the British, Australian, New Zealand and Dutch naval, military, and air forces in the Far East. It was requested that this statement be kept most secret as it was believed that the Japanese overestimated the forces available. (740.0011 Pacific War/5½)↩