Other formats

    TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

Documents Relating to New Zealand's Participation in the Second World War 1939–45: Volume III

51 — The Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs to the acting Prime Minister of New Zealand

51
The Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs to the acting Prime Minister of New Zealand

28 August 1941

Circular telegram. My immediately preceding telegram. The following are the terms of Formula 1:

‘His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom are aware of the communication which President Roosevelt made to the Japanese Ambassador on 17 August regarding the concern of the United States at Japanese military activities in Indo-China and the steps which the United States Government would be compelled to take if the Japanese Government pursued a similar policy in regard to neighbouring countries. His Majesty's Government share the concern of the United States Government and cannot disregard the plain threat to the security of British territories which such a policy on the part of Japan would constitute.

‘His Majesty's Government, therefore, who have for their part no aggressive intentions either against the countries bordering on British territories or against Japan herself, feel it necessary in the interests of peace to let the Japanese Government know that any further Japanese encroachment in the South-West Pacific area would compel His Majesty's Government to take counter measures, even though these might lead to war between Great Britain and Japan.’

page 60

The following are the terms of the second formula:

‘His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom have watched with grave concern successive encroachments of Japanese armed forces in Indo-China and accumulating evidence of an intention on the part of the Japanese Government to continue this policy of expansion by force or threat of force into countries bordering on British territories. They cannot disregard the plain threat to the security of those territories which such a policy would constitute.

‘His Majesty's Government, therefore, who have for their part no aggressive intentions either against these countries or against Japan herself, feel that the time has come for most complete candour. They accordingly find it necessary in the interests of peace to let the Japanese Government know that any further Japanese encroachment in the South-West Pacific area would compel His Majesty's Government to take counter measures, even though these might lead to war between Great Britain and Japan.’