[Secret]

 
From: Washington (Nomura)
To: Tokyo
9 October 1941
(Purple)
#917 (In 2 parts, complete)

For official code handling.

Secret outside of department.

Re my #915*.

On the 9th, Hamilton (accompanied by Ballantine and Schmidt) called on me on instructions of the Secretary of State, and I tried, on the basis of your #637** and along the general lines of-your telephone conversation, to ascertain their intentions. They went into minute explanations pointing out that the U. S. Government's attitude is made plain in the memorandum of October 2nd, namely that this government is seeking to promote peace in the Pacific on the basis of the so-called Four Principles, and that the views of the United States in regard to such problems as Japan's forced advances northward and southward, indiscriminatory treatment in the Pacific, withdrawal of troops in China, and the Tripartite Treaty, have their origin in a fundamental concern with regard to the future. They stated that these principles apply to the entire Pacific area, and that there is no reason for applying different principles in the various areas of the Pacific. In reply to my question as to whether or not the United States is satisfied with our explanation in regard to all other points aside from those pointed out in the memorandum of the 2nd, they replied that they would like to have this ascertained from the basic attitude of the U. S. Government which is indicated in the memorandum of the 2nd, that this memorandum was given careful study by the U. S. Government and that this represents all that the U. S. Government has to say and that therefore there is nothing more for them to add. They emphasized the fact that they think that the U. S. Government does not now desire to enter upon any more discussions in regard to details, and that if there is a "meeting of minds" between the two nations in regard to the interpretation of the four basic principles, the other questions will find a natural understanding; but they avoided giving much in the way of definite replies to my 3 questions.

Of course, they did state that there might be points in the proposal of June 21st which would need revision because of subsequent changes in the situation, but that in its larger aspects there has been no change and added further that after having studied these four basic principles, if Japan should reconsider the September 6th proposal and submit a second proposal, the United States stands ready to give it careful consideration.

With the situation as thus stated, I think we might as well proceed on the assumptions mentioned in my #907***.

 
23438
JD-1:                                      (F) Navy Trans. 10-14-41 (2) 
 
*JD-1: 5805 (S.I.S. #23437).
**JD-1: 5665 (S.I.S. #23118). Re the U. S. note of 2 October, it is assumed there is agreement with the U S. on all points of the negotiations for an "Understanding Agreement", except evacuation from China, and the Tripartite Pact. Is that true? Konoye approves in principle the Four Principles laid down by the U. S. and expected to iron out their application in conference. 
***JD-1: 5740 (S.I.S. #23319). In reply to Tokyo query whether the U. S. agrees to all points except "evacuation from China", Nomura explains in detail his ideas of the U. S. position and reasons for refusing the leader's meeting. Japan has equivocated and limited her agreement to the Four Principles the U. S. insist must be the basis of an understanding. 

 

(EXHIBITS OF JOINT COMMITTEE , EXHIBIT NO. 1 INTERCEPTED DIPLOMATIC MESSAGES SENT BY THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT BETWEEN JULY l AND DECEMBER 8, 1941)