693.002/457
The American Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs (Hirota)
Excellency: Referring to my note to Your Excellency, No. 850 dated December 23, 1937, relating to the continued and great concern entertained by my Government in the preservation of the integrity of the [Page 735] Chinese customs, I have the honor, acting under further instructions from my Government, to urge upon Your Excellency’s Government the importance of neither taking nor countenancing action by the Japanese military or other authorities which will disrupt the Chinese customs service or impair the authority of the present customs administration.
In again emphasizing the interest held by my Government in preserving the integrity of the Chinese customs and in the safeguarding of the revenues thereof, I have the honor to express the hope that I may receive the assurances from Your Excellency’s Government which were invited in my note under reference.
I avail myself [etc.]