811.3394/90

The Chargé in Japan ( Neville ) to the Secretary of State

No. 1156

Sir: Referring to the Department’s telegram No. 30 of April 10, 1929, 5 p.m., supplementing my telegram No. 40 of April 19, 1929, 4 p.m.,36 regarding the proposed visits to certain Japanese mandated islands of the U. S. S: Asheville, I have the honor to transmit herewith a copy of my note No. 477 of April 12, 1929, sent to the Foreign Office in compliance with the Department’s telegram under reference. No reply has been received from the Foreign Office but on April 19th Mr. Matsunaga, the Chief of the Treaty Bureau, called on me at the Embassy and said that he came on behalf of Mr. Yoshida, the Vice Minister.

He told me that the Foreign Office had referred our inquiry in regard to the desire of the United States Navy to send the U. S. S. Asheville to various ports and islands in the Japanese mandate territory to the South Seas Bureau of the Japanese Government. The [Page 257] South Seas Bureau had stated that while they would be very glad to have a visit from the United States Man-of-War at any of the open ports, namely, Saipan, Angaur, Truck, and Jaluit, they could not see their way to welcoming visits of this kind to out of the way places because harbor accommodations were limited in these small islands, there were no pilots available, and these harbors or anchorages were difficult of approach and at times dangerous. I said that I would transmit this information, which I thought was rather disappointing, to the Navy.

After some desultory conversation in which I referred to our disappointment at the South Seas Bureau’s decision—without any apparent effect on Mr. Matsunaga—he took his leave.

I have [etc.]

Edwin L. Neville
[Enclosure]

The American Chargé ( Neville ) to the Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs ( Tanaka )

No. 477

Excellency: Under instructions from my Government I have the honor to inform Your Excellency that the United States Navy Department contemplates ordering the U. S. S. Asheville to leave Manila about April 25th for return to the United States via Guam and Honolulu and to visit for about three days in each case the following islands of the Japanese Mandate en route:

Angaur Island April 30th
Oleai (or Ulie) Island May 6th
Ujeland Atoll May 21st
Kwajalong Atoll May 26th
Udia Atoll May 29th
Maloalab Kaoven June 2nd
Wotje Atoll June 5th

In bringing the foregoing to the notice of Your Excellency I was further instructed to inquire whether the proposed visits would be agreeable to the authorities concerned.

I avail myself [etc.]

Edwin L. Neville
  1. Neither printed.