[Secret]
From: Tokyo
To: Washington
July 24, 1941
Purple (CA)
#406
Secret
outside the Department.
Re
my #397[a].
That
the leaders of the United States Government will at this time display a high degree
of statesmanship is what I am secretly hoping for the sake of maintaining peace
in the Pacific. The Japanese Government would do likewise and would like to
reciprocate. However according to information received by us lately, especially
according to newspaper reports, there is the possibility of the United State
freezing Japanese funds or of instituting a general embargo on petroleum, thus
strongly stimulating public opinion in Japan. Should this plan of freezing
Japanese funds be put into effect, it would have an adverse effect on many
aspects of our domestic life and might compel us to resort to diverse
retaliatory measures. This would lead to a breakdown of Japanese-American
economic relations an we cannot be certain that it would not in turn hasten the
development of the worst situation. Will you please get in touch with Finance
Official NISHIYAMA and, in accordance with the contents of the caption
telegram, request the United States Government favorably treat this question.
Army 20034 Trans. 7/25/41 (5)
[a]
Not available.
(EXHIBITS OF JOINT COMMITTEE , EXHIBIT NO. 1 INTERCEPTED DIPLOMATIC MESSAGES SENT BY THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT BETWEEN JULY l AND DECEMBER 8, 1941)