793.94119/688: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received 10:14 a.m.]
578. With reference to Tokyo’s 1131, November 11, 10 p.m.,77 regarding Grew–Matsuoka conversation. Last evening Vice Minister Hsu Mo came to me at request of Generalissimo and referred to United Press despatch published here November 18 under Tokyo dateline which contained following:
“Unimpeachable sources state that Foreign Minister Matsuoka informed American Ambassador Joseph Grew on November 10 that he was personally making an effort to get into direct contact with Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek for ‘final’ offer. It is understood that Matsuoka requested Grew to ask Washington not to interfere with his peace efforts.”
Vice Minister asked me whether this was a correct report and if so what the reaction of American Government was. I have informed Vice Minister of nature of statement Matsuoka made to Mr. Grew and have also quoted to him report of question and answer of Acting Secretary Welles in regard to this matter reported in State Department Bulletin No. 274 of November 18.78
[Page 438]I asked Vice Minister whether Japanese Government had made an effort to get into direct touch with Chinese Government regarding peace terms and he denied that any such attempt had been made. Japanese Government is apparently attempting to prepare way for forthcoming treaty with Wang Ching Wei by intimations that negotiations directly with Chinese National Government were made impossible by attitude of United States.
In this connection I should state that when Dr. Hsu Mo asked what American Government’s reaction would be to the reported warning by Japan I told him that from my own personal point of view the American Government’s interest in these matters had been announced again and again as an interest in the maintenance of the treaties and defense of American interests and that American Government would hardly care to offer advice to China as to what it might deem proper to be done in its own interest.
Sent to the Department.
Repeated to Peiping, Shanghai. Shanghai please repeat to Tokyo.
- Printed in vol. i, section entitled “Relations of Japan With the Axis Powers and With the Soviet Union.”↩
- Radio Bulletin No. 274 said among other things: “A correspondent remarked that there were also reports from various points in the Far East to the effect that Japan was preparing to offer liberal terms to General Chiang Kai-shek, and that this Government had been apprised of them and requested not to interfere. Asked if he could comment, the Acting Secretary said that the Department had no information from our Embassy in Tokyo which would seem to offer any basis for such a report.”↩