[Secret]

 
From: Tokyo
To: Washington
1 November 1941
(Purple)
#721

Please advise this office what actual relationship exists at present between the original contents of the U. S. proposal of 21 June and the following points:

The matter pertaining to the exchanging of the official texts which was put into the 21 June proposal as a footnote to Section 2 thereof, (that part concerning the attitude of the respective nations to the European war); and, the three questions which were submitted concerning the United States' proposal of non-discrimination in trade, a subject which was put in as a supplement to Section 3, (concerning peace between China and Japan), of the 21 June proposal.

According to your message #424*, you told Secretary Hull on 22 June that you could not deliver the official note to the home government. Moreover, there seems to be indications that the U. S. Government is beginning to understand our viewpoint with regard to the matter of the right of self-defense.

In view of these facts, may we assume that the matter of exchanging of official notes has been dropped by the United States? We must have this information to discuss this whole matter in a business like manner, so please advise us immediately, although it may seem like bringing up old issues.

 
24531
JD-1: 6323                                (D) Navy Trans. 11-7-41 (S-TT)
 
*JD-1: 3271 (S.I.S #18717, and 18735) dated 24 June Amb. Nomura wires Tokyo that in an interview with Hull, Hull made the Statement that there seems to be influential people in Japan who do not desire an understanding with the U. S. so, after all, does Japan consider the composure of relations between the two countries so important. Nomura replies that such concession as the U. S. has so far offered are not worthy of consideration.

 

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