25g ONE WORLD : TWO WARS

lived here among you, will realize, I am sure, that my words and my
actions are those of a true friend.

One Japanese newspaper queried, on my return from America,
whether I had concealed in my bosom a dagger or a dove. Let me
answer that query. I have nothing concealed in my bosom except
the desire to work with all my mind, with all my heart, and with
all my strength for Japanese-American friendship.

To-day I have stated certain facts, straightforwardly and object-
ively. But I am also making a plea for sympathetic understanding
in the interests of the old, enduring friendship between our two
great nations. In a world of chaos I plead for stability, now and in
the long future, in a relationship which, if it can be preserved^ can
bring only good to Japan and to the United States of America.

THE BACKGROUND OF A HISTORIC ADDRESS

October 19, 1939

The background of the speech is described in the following
memorandum which I gave to Dooman, Creswell, and Smith-Hutton
after my return to Tokyo:

During my stay in the United States American public opinion
was steadily hardening against Japan. The denunciation of the
Treaty of 1911 was almost universally approved and there is an
almost universal demand for an embargo against Japan next winter.
The present attitude of the administration is that we will not allow
American interests to be crowded out of China. If Japan retaliates
against an American embargo, there is every probability that our
Government will counter-retaliate in some form or other.

I have pointed out that once started on a policy of sanctions
we must see them through and that such a policy may conceivably
lead to eventual war. There is, however, no sign whatever of weak-
ness in the administration's attitude now or in the attitude of the
public. The President and the Secretary of State seem determined
to support our position in the Far East. The full naval manoeuvres
are to take place in Hawaiian waters. There has been talk of
landing further American marines in Shanghai, but such a step,
just before I left Washington, was held in abeyance. There can
be little doubt, however, that if the Japanese military in China
continue their depredations against Americans and American
interests, and if they progressively take measures to drive them out
of China, our Government will take retaliatory measures regard-
less of the eventual outcome, and the Administration will be sup-
ported by the great majority of the American public. Very little
is now heard of the wisdom of folding our tents and withdrawing
gracefully from a possibly untenable position. Our position in the
Far East is regarded as an important factor in our position in world
affairs at large and not at all as an isolated problem.

Having in mind this attitude of the American Government