WASHINGTON, February 11, 1942
Your message of February tenth evidently crossed mine to you of February ninth. Under our constitutional authority the President of the United States is not empowered to cede or alienate any territory to another nation. Furthermore, the United States has just bound itself in agreement with twenty-five other nations to united action in dealing with the Axis Powers and has specifically engaged itself not to enter into any negotiations for a separates peace. You have no authority to communicate with the Japanese Government without the express permission of the United States Government. I will make no further comments regarding your last message dated February tenth pending your acknowledgement of mine to you of February ninth through General MacArthur.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
