[Secret]
 
From: Tokyo
To: Washington
17 November 1941
(Purple)
#784
 

Re your #1096*

 

By "in the event that the principle of non-discriminatory treatment is applied to the entire world", we mean that the Imperial Government desires that said principle would be applied uniformly throughout the world. Upon the realization of this hope, we anticipate that the principle will be applied on China as well.

 

We do not imply that the United States shall be held responsible for any violations of this principle outside of the United States' sphere of influence.

 

Even before the outbreak of this European war, the trend was away from the above mentioned basic principle. Since the outbreak of this war, practically all traces of the principle have been obliterated Under these circumstances it would be only one with a very unrealistic view of the situation who could expect any fruit from an attempt to apply the principle to China alone.

Japan is not refusing to apply the principle on China on the grounds that a few nations in the world refuse to comply. Japan desires to apply it to China when world conditions are such that a majority of the nations therein are in favor of the principle.

 

(Through an error, the serial number 781 was applied on two messages**. Will you please give the number 781-B to that message dated the 16th which contained information for Your Excellency only).

 
24880
JD-1: 6561                               (D) Navy Trans. 11-17-41 (S-TT)
 
*Not yet available.
**One available thus far. Dated. 16 November; JD-1: 6556 (S.I.S. #24873).

 

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