711.417/782
The Japanese Embassy to the Department of State
With reference to the Memorandum handed by the Honorable Joseph C. Grew, then Under Secretary of State, to the Japanese Ambassador on November 28 [29], 1926,21 in which it is stated that investigation made jointly by the scientists of the two countries would enable the two countries to determine what steps, if any, were necessary to correct conditions complained of by the Japanese Government, the Ambassador is now instructed by the Government to inform the American Government that full consideration has been paid to the significance of such investigation, and that in view of the discrepancy unfortunately existing between the views entertained by the authorities of the two countries concerned, it is of the opinion that a joint investigation seems most appropriate in order to make clear Japan’s case. The investigation should cover such matters as migratory, breeding, and feeding habits of fur seals and other pertinent facts which would help to determine the relative merits and demerits of land killing and pelagic sealing and to examine the detrimental effect on the fishing industry of Japan. As the findings of this joint investigation should be used as the basis for the revision of the present Convention22 to be made in a future conference, the Japanese Government further deems it proper and advisable that experts of Great Britain and Soviet Russia should be invited to co-operate with America and Japan in the undertaking.
- See undated memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs, Foreign Relations, 1926, vol. ii, p. 473.↩
- Convention between the United States, Great Britain, Japan, and Russia, for the preservation and protection of fur seals, signed July 7, 1911, Foreign Relations, 1911, p. 260.↩