The text of the document handed
by the Japanese Ambassador to
the Secretary of State at 2:20 p.m., December 7, 1941,
reads as
follows:
"Memorandum
"1. The government of Japan, prompted by a genuine
desire to come to an amicable understanding with the
Government of the United States in order that the
two countries by their joint efforts may secure the
peace of the Pacific Area and thereby contribute toward
the realization of world peace, has continued negotiations
with the utmost sincerity since April last with the
Government of the United States regarding the adjustment
and advancement of Japanese-American relations and
the stabilization of the Pacific Area.
"The Japanese Government has the honor to state
frankly its views concerning the claims the American
Government has persistently maintained as well as
the measure the United States and Great Britain have
taken toward Japan during these eight months.
"2. It is the immutable policy of the Japanese
Government to insure the stability of East Asia and
to promote world peace and thereby to enable all nations
to find each its proper place in the world.
"Ever since China Affair broke out owing to the
failure on the part of China to comprehend Japan's
true intentions, the Japanese Government has striven
for the restoration of peace and it has consistently
exerted its best efforts to prevent the extension
of war-like disturbances. It was also to that end
that in September last year Japan concluded the Tripartite
Pace with Germany and Italy.
"However, both the United States and Great Britain
have resorted to every possible measure to assist
the Chungking regime so as to obstruct the establishment
of a general peace between Japan and China, interfering
with Japan's constructive endeavours toward the stabilization
of East Asia. Exerting pressure on the Netherlands
East Indies, or menacing French Indo-China, they have
attempted to frustrate Japan's aspiration to the ideal
of common prosperity in cooperation with these regimes.
Furthermore, when Japan in accordance with its protocol
with France took measures of joint defense of French
Indo-China, both
American and British Governments, willfully misinterpreting
it as a threat to their own possessions, and inducing
the Netherlands Government to follow suit, they enforced
the assets freezing order, thus severing economic
relations with Japan. While manifesting thus an obviously
hostile attitude, these countries have strengthened
their military preparations perfecting an encirclement
of Japan, and have brought about a
situation which endangers the very existence of the
Empire.
"Nevertheless, to facilitate a speedy settlement,
the Premier of Japan proposed, in August last, to
meet the President of the United States for a discussion
of important problems between the two countries covering
the entire Pacific area. However, the American Government,
while accepting in principle the Japanese
proposal, insisted that the meeting should take place
after an agreement of view had been reached on fundamental
and essential questions.
"3. Subsequently, on September 25th the Japanese
Government submitted a proposal based on the formula
proposed by the American Government, taking fully
into consideration past American claims and also incorporating
Japanese views. Repeated discussions proved of no
avail in producing readily an agreement
of view. The present cabinet, therefore, submitted
a revised proposal, moderating still further the Japanese
claims regarding the principal points of difficulty
in the negotiation and endeavoured strenuously to
reach a settlement. But the American Government, adhering
steadfastly to its original assertions, failed to
display in the slightest degree a spirit of conciliation.
The negotiation made no progress.
"Therefore, the Japanese Government, with a view
to doing its utmost for averting a crisis in Japanese-American
relations, submitted on November 20th still another
proposal in order to arrive at an equitable solution
of the more essential and urgent questions which,
simplifying its previous proposal, stipulated
the following points:
"(1) The Government of Japan and the United States
undertake not to dispatch armed forces into any of
the regions, excepting French Indo-China, in the Southeastern
Asia and the Southern Pacific area.
"(2) Both Governments shall cooperate with the
view to securing the acquisition in the Netherlands
East Indies of those goods and commodities of which
the two countries are in need.
"(3) Both Governments mutually undertake to restore
commercial relations to those prevailing prior to
the freezing of assets.
"The Government of the United States shall supply
Japan the required quantity of oil.
"(4) The Government of the United States undertakes
not to resort to measures and actions prejudicial
to the endeavours for the restoration of general peace
between Japan and China.
"(5) The Japanese Government undertakes to withdraw
troops now stationed in French Indo-China upon either
the restoration of peace between Japan and China or
establishment of an equitable peace in the Pacific
Area; and it is prepared to remove the Japanese troops
in the southern part of French Indo-China to the northern
part upon the conclusion of the present agreement.
"As regards China, the Japanese Government, while
expressing its readiness to accept the offer of the
President of the United States to act as 'introducer'
of peace between Japan and China as was previously
suggested, asked for an undertaking on the part of
the United States to do nothing prejudicial to the
restoration of Sino-Japanese peace when the two parties
have commenced direct negotiations.
"The American Government not only rejected the
above-mentioned new proposal, but made known its intention
to continue its aid to Chiang Kai-shek; and in spite
of its suggestion mentioned above, withdrew the offer
of the President to act as so-called 'introducer'
of peace between Japan and China, pleading that
time was not yet ripe for it. Finally on November
26th, in an attitude to impose upon the Japanese Government
those principles it has persistently maintained, the
American Government made a proposal totally ignoring
Japanese claims, which is a source of profound regret
to the Japanese Government.
"4. From the beginning of the present negotiation
the Japanese Government has always maintained an attitude
of fairness and moderation, and did its best to reach
a settlement, for which it made all possible concessions
often in spite of great difficulties. As for the China
question which constitutes an important subject of
the negotiation, the Japanese Government showed a
most conciliatory attitude. As for the principle of
non-discrimination in international commerce, advocated
by the American Government, the Japanese Government
expressed its desire to see the said principle applied
throughout the world, and declared that along with
the actual practice of this principle in the world,
the Japanese Government would endeavour to apply the
same in the Pacific area including China, and made
it clear that Japan had no intention of excluding
from China economic activities of third powers pursued
on an equitable basis. Furthermore, as regards the
question of withdrawing troops from French Indo-China,
the Japanese Government even volunteered, as mentioned
above, to carry out an immediate evacuation of troops
from Southern French Indo-China as a measure of easing
the situation.
"It is presumed that the spirit of conciliation
exhibited to the utmost degree by the Japanese Government
in all these matters is fully appreciated by the American
Government.
"On the other hand, the American Government,
always holding fast to theories in disregard of realities,
and refusing to yield an inch on its impractical principles,
cause undue delay in the negotiation. It is difficult
to understand this attitude of the American Government
and the Japanese Government desires to call the attention
of the American Government especially to the following
points:
"1. The American Government advocates in the
name of world peace those principles favorable to
it and urges upon the Japanese Government the acceptance
thereof. The peace of the world may be brought about
only by discovering a mutually acceptable formula
through recognition of the reality of the situation
and mutual appreciation of one another's position.
An attitude such as ignores realities and impose (sic)
one's selfish views upon others will scarcely serve
the purpose of facilitating the consummation of negotiations.
"Of the various principles put forward by the
American Government as a basis of the Japanese-American
Agreement, there are some which the Japanese Government
is ready to accept in principle, but in view of the
world's actual condition it seems only a utopian ideal
on the part of the American Government to
attempt to force their immediate adoption.
"Again, the proposal to conclude a multilateral
non-aggression pact between Japan, United States,
Great Britain, China, the Soviet Union, the Netherlands
and Thailand, which is patterned after the old concept
of collective security, is far removed from the realities
of East Asia.
"2. The American proposal contained a stipulation
which states - 'Both Governments will agree that no
agreement, which either has concluded with any third
power or powers, shall be interpreted by it in such
a way as to conflict with the fundamental purpose
of this agreement, the establishment and preservation
of peace throughout the Pacific area.' It is presumed
that the above provision has been proposed with a
view to restrain Japan from fulfilling its obligations
under the Tripartite Pact when the United States participates
in the war in Europe, and, as such, it cannot be accepted
by the Japanese Government.
"The American Government, obsessed with its own
views and opinions, may be said to be scheming for
the extension of the war. While it seeks, on the one
hand, to secure its rear by stabilizing the Pacific
Area, it is engaged, on the other hand, in aiding
Great Britain and preparing to attack, in the name
of self-defense, Germany and Italy, two Powers that
are striving to establish a new order in Europe. Such
a policy is totally at variance with the many principles
upon which the American Government proposes to found
the stability of the Pacific Area through peaceful
means.
"3. Whereas the American Government, under the
principles it rigidly upholds, objects to settle international
issues through military pressure, it is exercising
in conjunction with Great Britain and other nations
pressure by economic power. Recourse to such pressure
as a means of dealing with international relations
should be condemned as it is at times more inhumane
that military pressure.
"4. It is impossible not to reach the conclusion
that the American Government desires to maintain and
strengthen, in coalition with Great Britain and other
Powers, its dominant position in has hitherto occupied
not only in China but in other areas of East Asia.
It is a fact of history that the countries of East
Asia have for the past two hundred years or more have
been compelled to observe the status quo under the
Anglo-
American policy of imperialistic exploitation and
to sacrifice themselves to the prosperity of the two
nations. The Japanese Government cannot tolerate the
perpetuation of such a situation since it directly
runs counter to Japan's fundamental policy to enable
all nations to enjoy each its proper place in the
world.
"The stipulation proposed by the American Government
relative to French Indo-China is a good exemplification
of the above- mentioned American policy. Thus the
six countries, - Japan, the United States, Great Britain,
the Netherlands, China,, and Thailand, - excepting
France, should undertake among themselves to respect
the territorial integrity and sovereignty of French
Indo-China and equality of treatment in trade and
commerce would be tantamount to placing that territory
under the joint guarantee of the Governments of those
six countries. Apart from the fact that such a proposal
totally ignores the position of
France, it is unacceptable to the Japanese Government
in that such an arrangement cannot but be considered
as an extension to French Indo-China of a system similar
to the Nine Power Treaty structure which is the chief
factor responsible for the present predicament of
East Asia.
"5. All the items demanded of Japan by the American
Government regarding China such as wholesale evacuation
of troops or unconditional application of the principle
of non-discrimination in international commerce ignored
the actual conditions of China, and are calculated
to destroy Japan's position as the
stabilizing factor of East Asia. The attitude of the
American Government in demanding Japan not to support
militarily, politically or economically any regime
other than the regime at Chungking, disregarding thereby
the existence of the Nanking Government, shatters
the very basis of the present negotiations. This demand
of the American Government falling, as it does, in
line with its above-mentioned refusal to cease from
aiding the
Chungking regime, demonstrates clearly the intention
of the American Government to obstruct the restoration
of normal relations between Japan and China and the
return of peace to East Asia.
"5. (sic) In brief, the American proposal contains
certain acceptable items such as those concerning
commerce, including the conclusion of a trade agreement,
mutual removal of the freezing restrictions, and stabilization
of yen and dollar exchange, or the abolition of extra-territorial
rights in China. On the other hand, however, the proposal
in question ignores Japan's sacrifices in the four
years of the China Affair,
menaces the Empire's existence itself and disparages
its honour and prestige. Therefore, viewed in its
entirety, the Japanese Government regrets it cannot
accept the proposal as a basis of negotiation.
"6. The Japanese Government, in its desire for
an early conclusion of the negotiation, proposed simultaneously
with the conclusion of the Japanese-American negotiation,
agreements to be signed with Great Britain and other
interested countries. The proposal was accepted by
the American Government. However, since the American
Government has made the proposal of November 26th
as a result of frequent consultation with Great Britain,
Australia, the Netherlands and Chungking, and presumably
by catering to the wishes of the Chungking regime
in the questions of China, it must be concluded that
all these countries are at one with the United States
in ignoring Japan's position.
"7. Obviously it is the intention of the American
Government to conspire with Great Britain and other
countries to obstruct Japan's effort toward the establishment
of peace through the creation of a new order in East
Asia, and especially to preserve Anglo-American rights
and interest by keeping Japan and China at
war. This intention has been revealed clearly during
the course of the present negotiation.
"Thus, the earnest hope of the Japanese Government
to adjust Japanese-American relations and to preserve
and promote the peace of the Pacific through cooperation
with the American Government has finally been lost.
"The Japanese Government regrets to have to notify
hereby the American Government that in view of the
attitude of the American Government it cannot but
consider that it is impossible to reach an agreement
through further negotiations.
"December 7, 1941." |