26
711.94/908
Informal and Personal Message
From, the Secretary of State To the Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs
(Hirota) [18]
TO HIS EXCELLENCY
THE MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF JAPAN.
Mr. Saito, the new Ambassador of Japan to the
United States, has delivered to me the personal and informal message which you
have been so good as to send me.
[18] Handed to the Japanese Ambassador by the Secretary of State, March 3, 1934, 12:30 p. m.
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The cordial sentiments which you express in
this message I highly appreciate and reciprocate.
I have not failed to note, with
gratification, Your Excellency's effort to foster friendly relations with other
powers. In all such effort I am sure that you realize that you may rely upon me
for the fullest possible measure of cooperation.
You express the opinion that viewed in the
light of the broad aspects of the situation and studied from all possible
angles no question exists between our two countries that is fundamentally
incapable of amicable solution. I fully concur with you in that opinion.
Further, I believe that there are in fact no questions between our two
countries which if they be viewed in proper perspective in both countries can
with any warrant be regarded as not readily susceptible to adjustment by pacific
processes. It is the fixed intention of the American Government to rely, in
prosecution of its national policies, upon such processes. If unhappily there
should arise in the future any controversy between our two countries, the
American Government will be prepared, as I believe it always has been in the
past, to examine the position of Japan in a spirit of amity and of desire for
peaceful and just settlement, with the confident expectation that the Japanese
Government will be prepared to examine the position of the United States in the
same spirit.
You refer to the gratifying fact that in the
field of trade the interests of our two countries are not in conflict and
commercial ties are being constantly strengthened. I perceive every reason to
anticipate that the United States and Japan will continue to develop their
reciprocal trade with benefit to both countries and, where there may be
competition, with constant reciprocal good will.
You state emphatically that Japan has no
intention whatever to provoke and make trouble with any other power. I receive
this statement with special gratification and I am glad to take this
opportunity to state categorically that the United States on its part has no
desire to create any issues and no intention to initiate any conflict in its
relations with other countries.
In the light of these facts I feel that I
should also avail myself of this opportunity to express my earnest hope that it
may be possible for all of the countries which have interests in the Far East
to approach every question existing or which may arise between or among them in
such spirit and manner that these questions may be regulated or resolved with
injury to none and with definite and lasting advantage to all.
I shall of course be glad to receive through
the Ambassador of Japan
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to the United States or the Ambassador of the United States to Japan any
suggestions calculated to maintain and to increase that friendliness and
cordiality which have constantly marked since the conclusion of our first
treaty the relations between our two countries. You may count upon my earnest
desire to favor any measure or steps which may be practicable toward this end
and toward fostering at the same time relations of peace, good will and general
benefit among all members of the Family of Nations.
CORDELL HULL