811.3362i/9a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Japan (Grew)
75. For several years now the Government of Japan has requested, each year, that the American Government extend facilities in its territorial waters off the Alaskan coasts to two Japanese Government ships and permit their entry into harbors in Alaska and in the Aleutian Islands that are not open, ordinarily, to foreign commerce. In the case of one of the vessels in question it was stated that its purpose in visiting these waters and harbors was the making of studies in connection with protection of fur-bearing seals; in the case of the second vessel, however, it was not suggested that the visits would be made on basis of any treaty or formal arrangement between the American Government and the Government of Japan. The Government of the United States has acceded, nevertheless, to the requests of the Government of Japan in this regard.
A strong undercurrent of suspicion and conjecture has existed for some time past over harbor developments or fortifications in possessions which both Japan and the United States have in the Pacific. No objection to the visits of Japanese Government vessels to the territorial waters and closed harbors of Alaska has been made by this Government, as it was believed that the opportunities which were open in this way for observation by Japanese vessels would serve to remove any suspicion which the Government of Japan might hold that any improvements have been made of such a nature as would violate either the letter or the spirit of the naval treaty signed on February 6, 1922.46
In our view it is unfortunate that the Government of Japan so far has not adopted an attitude similarly liberal in the face of allegations that in the Japanese mandated islands of the Pacific improvements [Page 308] are being carried out which are irreconcilable with Japan’s treaty obligations not to fortify those islands. We can understand that the Government of Japan should be reluctant to give any countenance to irresponsible allegations, but nevertheless that Government undoubtedly shares with the Government of the United States the view that persistent suspicion with regard to this matter is provocative of mutual distrust, and that such suspicion, therefore, should be dispelled.
The American destroyer Alden will be sent shortly to the Asiatic station according to the Navy Department plans. The Japanese Government will thus have presented to it an opportunity to extend to a vessel of this Government courtesies at the larger unopened ports of the Pacific mandated islands, as well as at the open ports. An invitation by the Government of Japan for the Alden to visit these ports would have, in our opinion, highly beneficial results from the point of view of relations between the two nations.
Please consider carefully and attentively our views as we have sketched them. If no objection is perceived, please present these views informally and orally to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, putting forward the suggestion outlined in the foregoing paragraph as on your own initiative.
Inform the Department currently by telegraph.