[Secret]
From: Tokyo
To: Washington
November 10, 1941
Purple (CA) (Urgent)
#755. Part 1 of 2.
Re
my #754 [a].
In
adjusting Japanese-American relations, the Government of Japan has attached a
great deal of importance on speedy solution of the China Incident. At the same
time the United States Government also has maintained the attitude that if
peace is to be established in the Pacific, the China question cannot be
overlooked. Now, if it is the intention of the United States Government to
mediate between Japan and China along the lines proposed by Secretary HULL and
also to leave the matter of peace terms to the Japanese and Chinese
Governments, this plan harmonizes with what the Japanese Govern-
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108
ment
has been looking forward to since the beginning of ------. It would mean that the
question of withdrawing troops from China would according to HULL's suggestion
be left out for the time being from the negotiations. This would make it
possible for us to hasten the settlement by means of negotiations conducted
between Japan and China alone and it would also have the advantage of bringing
about peace between Japan and China without American interference.
Should
we take advantage of this proposal, it goes without saying that it would be
necessary to secure a promise or a definite statement that the settlement of
the negotiations between Japan and the United States would not make the
establishment of peace between Japan and China its condition and that the
United States would not interfere with the peace to be established between
Japan and China. (This promise includes cessation of activities for aiding
CHIANG.) Furthermore, it is necessary to make it clear that the agreement
between Japan and the United States would be immediately signed and put into
effect.
Army 24581 Trans. 11/10/41 (S)
[a] Not available.
[Secret]
From: Tokyo
To: Washington
November 10, 1941
Purple (CA)
#755. Part 2 of 2.
As
regards the China question, this would mean that the paragraph concerning the
China Incident in Proposal "A" of my #726 [a] (paragraph 3 of the
Agreement) should be eliminated from the agenda of the negotiations and
paragraph 4 of Proposal "B" given in my #727 [b] (namely that the
United States will refrain from any action detrimental to the efforts made for
the purpose of establishing peace between Japan and China) be substituted in
its place.
Furthermore,
I believe that the United States wishes to see a speedy establishment of an
agreement between Japan and the United States and so, for this reason, HULL's
proposal is a sincere one and from this standpoint the United States Government
proposes to mediate between Japan and China. If the United States is of the
intention of postponing the settlement of questions other than the China
question until peace is established between Japan and China or of continuing
aid to CHIANG, we shall not be able to accept the proposal for it would prevent
the establishment of an agreement between Japan and the United States and,
furthermore, would be apt to put the blame for the failure of the
Japanese-American negotiations upon us. I need hardly point this out to you but
I would like to have you take care so that this would not happen.
Army 24582 Trans. 11/10/41 (S)
[a] S.I.S. #24334-37.
[b] S.I.S. #24338.
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