Historical Dictionary of United States-Japan ... - Bakumatsu Films

JOHN DOE ASSOCIATES • 147
JOHN DOE ASSOCIATES. The so-called John Doe Associates,
whose membership included an American priest, a Japanese army
colonel, and a Japanese banker, worked behind the official diplomatic
scenes of the 1941 Japanese–American negotiations with the intention
of maneuvering the United States and Japan into a peaceful
settlement of their differences. As the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor
attests, their endeavors ended in failure. In fact, a noted authority
on this private effort for peace regards the John Doe Associates as
a distracting and disruptive element that made Japanese–American
rapprochement harder—not easier—to obtain.
Their activities began in late 1940, when Fr. James Drought met
with various Japanese officials. As he informed President Franklin
D. Roosevelt in January 1941, he emerged convinced that Japan was
prepared to leave the Tripartite Alliance, and that it was ready to conclude
the China Incident on terms acceptable to the United States.
Roosevelt was too prudent to take Drought’s evaluations at face
value. After all, they flew in the face of other indicators of Japanese
policy, including—most importantly—the bellicosity of Foreign
Minister Yōsuke Matsuoka. Roosevelt chose instead to await the arrival
of Japan’s newly appointed ambassador, Kichisaburō Nomura.
Through no fault of his own, Nomura arrived in Washington in
February without any concrete proposals for bettering
Japanese–American relations. Soon thereafter, however, Tadao
Ikawa, a banker who was a friend of Prime Minister Fumimaro Konoe,
arrived in the United States. He was followed closely by Colonel
Hideo Iwakuro, who was dispatched in response to Ambassador Nomura’s
specific request for the army’s understanding and assistance.
Drought, Ikawa, and Iwakuro—the so-called John Doe Associates—
proceeded over the ensuing months to draft various proposals for
Japanese–American understanding. They maintained quite close relations
with Ambassador Nomura. At the same time, Ikawa intermittently
contacted Konoe, and Iwakuro remained in close contact with
the War Ministry. On the American side, their principal contact came
in the form of Postmaster General Frank Walker.
The so-called Draft Understanding between the United States and
Japan, which Secretary of State Cordell Hull in April 1941 informed
Nomura would be acceptable as the basis for negotiations,
was the product of the John Doe Associates’ endeavors. The Japanese
government, however, refused to play ball. Foreign Minister