You ask us a plain question and you want a plain answer.

Then I must tell you this.
The matter is not one concerning which I can give you any definite information.

I appreciate the position of your friend Mr.Jones, and I should like to have met him in the same spirit as he has shown in his inquiry, but I may tell you that, being utterly convinced that Japan does not seek war with you, and that therefore no war is likely, my Government is not prepared to answer a question which they consider based upon an impossibility.

If this war should come, the position of our country would depend entirely upon the rights of the dispute.

As a corollary to that, I would mention two things.