803.102S/2249: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Japan (Grew)
344. We have noted the comments contained in your recent telegram and especially the indication of your view that the negotiations in regard to the defense sectors appear to have reached an impasse. On this point we offer for your consideration comment as follows:
Every country is compelled today to strengthen its machinery of national defense and the people of this country are proceeding strenuously with plans and production which will render this country in a comparatively short time far more powerful in the military field than it is at present. As an example of what this country is doing there may be cited the recent developments in connection with the strengthening of our Atlantic defenses. Press reports from Japan indicate that these developments have attracted wide-spread public attention in Japan and that there is growing realization there of their implications. Even though Japanese reactions to these developments may not immediately make themselves manifest, we believe that Japanese realization of the trends in the world situation may gradually come to have a favorable effect.
In the light of the foregoing considerations we are of the opinion that it may serve a useful purpose for you to seek an early occasion to make a further oral approach in regard to this matter to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. We think it might be useful for you to make observations along lines as follows:
The position adopted by the Japanese Government, which needless to say is very disappointing to this Government, would not seem to call for lengthy or detailed observations. Several considerations, however, stand out in relief. Mr. Ohashi’s reference to the matter as “an issue of such trivial importance”42 and the similar statement reported to have been made by Suma43 raises the question why, if these statements accurately reflect the Japanese point of view, the Japanese authorities at Shanghai continue to assume so uncompromising an attitude. That uncompromising attitude appears inconsistent with [Page 809] statements of the Foreign Minister which we have interpreted to mean that the Japanese Government desired a reasonable and equitable settlement of the problem. The attitude of the local Japanese authorities at Shanghai, as indicated in their statements, appears to brush aside completely the reasoning which this Government has put forth in explanation of its position and is seemingly based largely upon the contention that the recent procedure of the Defense Committee’s and the Council’s voting were objectionable to the Japanese authorities and upon political considerations external to the situation at and the problems of Shanghai. With reference to the statement in the Foreign Minister’s “oral statement” (your 791, September 4, 11 p.m.) to the effect that the interior of the Settlement is bound to be affected by the situation in the immediately adjoining areas, it may be observed that this Government has noted with regret that the Japanese authorities have thus far failed to implement the Miura Fu–Franklin agreement in regard to the policing of the extra-Settlement roads in the western area. With reference to the further statement to the effect that efforts should be made to enable the Settlement police to be used to the maximum degree possible, this Government has also noted with regret that the Japanese authorities continue to refuse to allow the Settlement police to resume their normal functioning in the Yang-tzepoo and Hongkew areas of the Internal Settlement.
It must be apparent to the Japanese Government that its present course of policy is bound to lead it into a position of growing difficulty. As it becomes increasingly clear that Japan in seeking to bring within its orbit the various countries in the Far East is attempting to “Manchukuoize” them instead of treating them as is the practice of the nations of the American continent in their relations among themselves and other nations on a basis of equality, there is bound to develop, in addition to such resistance as the countries directly affected are in a position to offer, a growing purpose among other countries having interests in those regions to seek adequate means to safeguard their interests. It is not within the character of the people of the United States, for their part, ever to give assent or to be reconciled to measures which are directed to the subjugating of nations and people and the monopolizing of opportunity.
You should emphasize the fact that the people and Government of the United States have sought and are still seeking to avoid any kind of conflict with any other nation. We wish to continue to have amicable and mutually beneficial relations with Japan. It happens, however, in international relations, not infrequently, that a country thus disposed is forced by the acts of another country into a position in which some sort of positive action in defense of legitimate interests becomes inevitable. The United States has thus far in no respect [Page 810] trespassed upon Japan’s rights and legitimate interests. The offenses against rights and legitimate interests have all been on Japan’s side. Positive measures of self-defense by the United States in relations with Japan, if they come, will have been brought on by Japan’s persistent disregard of rights and impairment of legitimate interests of the United States, and they will be amply warranted in the character of appropriate procedures of retaliation.
In view of the statement of the Japanese Foreign Minister (your 756, August 27, 6 p.m.) that he would do his best to bring about an amicable and equitable settlement, it continues to be the hope of this Government that the Japanese Government will instruct its authorities at Shanghai to the end that the conversations may be resumed there on a basis which will render such a settlement possible.
When action is taken please inform Department of that fact.
Sent to Tokyo via Shanghai. Repeated to Chungking and Peiping.
- See telegram No. 791, September 4, 11 p.m., from the Ambassador in Japan, p. 798.↩
- The Ambassador in Japan, in telegram No. 804, September 6, 5 p.m. (893.102S/2251), reported the Japan Times that afternoon as quoting the Japanese Foreign Office spokesman, Yakichiro Suma: “The Shanghai sector question is becoming a very important question between the United States and our country, but we hope to find a way out of the difficulty. The United States seems to take great interest in it (the Shanghai problem) but we don’t attach such importance to it.” On September 4 the Secretary of State had issued a statement on the subject; see Foreign Relations, Japan, 1931–1941, vol. ii, p. 111.↩