Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-12-05
Hull Memorandum
Reveals Japanese
Distrust Of Russia
BY BLAIR BOLLES.

him that the non-aggreSsion pact
between Japan and Russia would
undoubtedly give Japan all of the
assurance OF Russia's peaceful atti-
tude toward Japan that Japan could
desire"
The laughter by Ambassador Kich-
isaburo Nomura is recounted in a
memorandum by Mr.. Hull written
August %, 194l, and published yes
terday by the State Department in
the 800-page volume two of Papers
Relating to the Foreign Relations
of the United States-Japan: 1881
1871"
The pact, at which Nomura
laughed at very heartily" two
years ago, remain the basis of peace
between Russia and Japan, and it
Is possible that the Ambassadors
attitude reflects current Japanese
views.
Decline Of Relations Traced.
Many reflections of japanese con-
Germ about Russia are included In
documents in volume two, tracing
the decline OF American japanese
relations from May 10, 1899, when
Japan was discussing with Ger
many and Italy the possibility of
Its joining the Anti-Comintern
Pact to December 8, 1941, when
Congress passed and President
Roosevelt approved the resolution
declaring war on Japan.
The documents reveal that, by the
report OF reliable informant of
Ambassador Joseph C. Crews, EN-
peror Hirohito commanded the army
and navy in the autumn of 1941 to
pursue policy which would guar
antee that there would be no war
with the United States" The COM
mand, Mr.. Grew told the State De-
partment, came just before the fall |
OF the Konoye cabinet in October, |
194l. and the appointment of Prime
Minister Hideki TOTO, who was
"committed to policy of attempting
to conclude successfully the current
Japanese-American conversations.
The reliability of the informant
might be measured by the fact that |
ne made his report to Mr.. Grew
only six weeks before the attack on
Pearl Harbor, yet Mr.. Grew said:
The informant who is in con-
tact with the highest circles, went
on to say that for the first time in
10 years the situation at present
and the existing political setup in
Japan offer a possibility of re-
orientation of Japanese policy and |.
action"
Significant Laugh.
Nomura laughed twice on August
g.. 194l, about the -Japa-
nese neutrality pact. The first time
was during the day at the State
Department when Nomura pro-
protested American oil shipments
to Siberia. A memorandum by Mr..
Hull tells the story:
The Ambassador said thew |
are faced with large Russian forces
IN the Vladivostok area and that
they cannot be satisfied or content
to see what they would firmly be-
lieve would be a great building up {
OF Russian military supply bases !
Just across the line from Japan ;"
L remarked jocularly that I ,
wondered whether the Stationing of /,
large armies by Japan and Russia
facing each other across the border
In the Vladivostok 'Manchukuoan'
area was a method of administer q
ing and maintaining the late nom b
aggression pact entered into be- d
tween Japan and Russia with great f
enthusiasm on the part of Matsuoka t
tYosuke Matsuoka, then japanese
Foreign Minister.
The ambassador only laughed but
did so rather significantly"
On the same day Nomura called at
Mr. Hulls apartment in order to
discuss President Roosevelt's wishes
with respect to Prime Minister
Konoye's request for meeting be-
tween Konoye and the President
somewhere out in the Pacific. Mr..
Hulls memorandum reports:
The President had indicated If
such meeting was to be held that
it might be arranged for about Oc-
tober IS. The ambassador said that
his government desired to have this
meeting earlier than October IS,
which he said in all frankness is
due to the coming reported mill
tary and other conferences with
Soviet Russia in Moscow (by the d,
United States at an earlier date
and probably in the first part of
September.
Japan Warned U. s.
"He indicated that his Govern
menu was afraid that some agree
ments might be entered into at
Moscow that would be detrimental
to Japan and to Japan's plans and
policies. I replied to his general Z
suggestion by saying that the nom
aggression pact between Japan and
Soviet Russia would undoubtedly
give Japan all of the assurance Of
Russia's peaceful attitude toward
Japan as Japan could desire.
THE Ambassador laughed very
heartily at this
Acting as Hitlers diplomatic
agent, Japan warned the United
States on May IA, 1941, that war
with Germany would almost GER
tainly result for the United States
If this country conveyed ships to
Great Britain. Foreign Minister
Matsuoka gave the warning to Mr..
Grew. who reported to the State De-
partment:
He said he thought that
Hitler had shown great patience
and generosity in not declaring
war on the United States. He said
he knew that Hitler desired to avoid
such a war, but that it was doubtful
whether his patience and restraint
could continue indefinitely.
Mr.. Matsuoka added that in 7.
view of the present American Gov ,
eminent and actions he felt that
the manly, decent and reasonable
thing for the United States to do
was to declare war openly on Ger
many instead of engaging in acts
Of war under cover of neutrality"