Dispatch S-83 (extract) TOKYO, 5 November 1941

CONFIDENTIAL

I have the honour to report that on 30th and 31st October the new
Minister for Foreign Affairs received in turn the heads of the
various Missions accredited to the Court of His Imperial Majesty.

As the latest in date of assumption of duty of the Charges
d'Affaires, he received me last, about 6.30 p.m. on 31st.

2. Mr. Togo spoke in Japanese, which was then interpreted to me,
but appeared to understand English perfectly well, so that it was
not necessary for what I said to be translated back into Japanese.

I noticed also that once or twice he corrected in Japanese the
English translation being made by his Secretary. I had been warned
that he was somewhat taciturn and stern, but in actual fact he was
extremely friendly and smiling.

3. He commenced by enquiring about the health of Sir John Latham
[1] and expressed regret at his illness and said that he looked
forward to his return to Japan and having dealings with him. He
then proceeded to express his regret that he had never been able
to visit Australia and the hope that he might be able to do so at
some future date. He stated as his opinion that nothing was more
important for the improvement of international relations than that
those in charge of international affairs should know one another's
countries.

4. Mr. Togo then stated at length Japan's anxiety and wish to
maintain peace in the Pacific. In reply I said that he could rest
assured that His Majesty's Government in the Commonwealth of
Australia was no less anxious for the preservation of peace, but
that they felt that the key was not in their hands, but in the
hands of Japan. I said that the Japanese advance into French Indo-
China had aroused the gravest apprehension in Australia and that
the flow of statements in the Japanese press about Japan's
southward aims maintained that apprehension. If Japan made no more
further move the Government could be assured that Australia had no
hostile intentions and that the stories of encirclement were all
the creation of Japanese pressmen and often self-appointed
authorities on international relations. However, should Japan
contemplate further moves, then she must realise that there was
complete unanimity between Great Britain and the Dominions and so
between Great Britain and Australia, and that any threat that
touched one touched the other. I read in the Japanese press
frequent references to Japan's lifeline. I hoped His Excellency
would appreciate that the lifeline extending from Australia
through Singapore to the westward was no less vital to Australia.

5. His Excellency said that if the key was, as I had said, in
Japan's hands, then we could rest assured that Japan would
maintain the peace. However, after a pause he added that this was
provided that Japan's adequate economic needs were met. I said
that His Excellency, no doubt, knew our reasons for economic
action against Japan. His Excellency, with a somewhat wry smile,
assented, and added that it was quite possible that he might wish
to discuss the question in greater detail at a future date. The
interview closed with a few friendly words by the Minister.

6. The effect of the interview on me was to give me the same
feeling of apprehension that Sir Robert Craigie [2] had after his
interview on 29th October, and which I reported in my telegram No.

486. [3]

7. This afternoon I called on Mr. Nishi the new Vice Minister for
Foreign Affairs. As I have reported in my telegram No. 493 [4] I
referred to the broadcast dealt with in your telegram No. 286. [5]
Mr. Nishi clearly knew nothing of the broadcast, and was not
prepared to treat it seriously; he assured me that Japanese policy
would not be affected by such 'incitements'. I then referred to
the tone the Japanese press were adopting-treating the discussions
with the U.S.A. as a failure owing to the U.S.A.'s refusal to
'understand' the Japanese position, and appearing to accept as
inevitable increasing bad relations until a climax was reached and
war ensued. Mr. Nishi ascribed the tone of the press to the
impatience of the public at the lack of progress of the
negotiations. (I have heard it ascribed to the Government's hope
of bringing pressure on the U.S.A. or the British Commonwealth to
induce them to give way.) He assured me that the Government
intended to persevere and hoped that a way would be found to
relieve the tension. Mr. Nishi emphasized Japan's desire for peace
in the Pacific, and I took the opportunity of speaking again on
the lines reported in paragraph [4] above.

[matter omitted]

KEITH OFFICER