Papers relating to the foreign relations of the United States, 1930, Volume I

500.A15a3/1343

The Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs (Shidehara) to the American Ambassador in Japan (Castle)²⁸

[Translation]

Tokyo, May 24, 1930.

No. 66/T1

Excellency: I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your Note dated May 21, 1930,²⁹ relative to the interpretation of the term “category” appearing in Article 19 of the London Naval Treaty of 1930.

The Imperial Government understands the word “category” appearing in Article 19 of the above-mentioned treaty to mean “category” or “sub-category;” thus, it interprets this treaty in the sense that ships belonging to either sub-category (a) or sub-category (b) of the cruiser category (Article 16) which shall become over age may be replaced only within that sub-category.

I avail myself [etc.]

Baron Kijuro Shidehara

[seal]

28. Copy transmitted to the Department by the Ambassador as an enclosure to his despatch No. 109, January 20, 1931; received February 7.
29. Proceedings of the London Naval Conference, p. 297.