Thirdly, the Sino-Japanese conflict must be ended on a basis which would leave China a free and independent nation—in fact as well as in theory. Neither Washington nor Tokyo now sees the possibility of an early end lo the conflict.
I was told.unimpeachably in Washington that the following probably must happen before Japanese-American collaboration can be restored:
Firstly, formation of a vigorous, stable government in Tokyo, representing the United Japanese people and able to force its will upon the Japanese Army, Cabinets in Tokyo have been changing every few months during the past 12 years and no government since the days immediately preceding the Manchurian wars has been able to demonstrate that it is in complete control of the Imperial Army.
There are some indications the present cabinet may be gaining the power needed and the Prime Minister, Prince Fumimaro Konoye, within a few months may be strong enough to make commitments Washington can accept as binding and representing the united will of the Japanese people, Secondly, Japan must abandon what appears to be its present conception of a "Greater East Asia sphere of common prosperity.
Washington believes the conception
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.