893.002/990
The Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs (Arita) to the American Ambassador in Japan (Grew)
Excellency: With reference to Your Excellency’s note no. 1366, September 1, 1939, in which representations were made concerning the control of the Swatow Maritime Customs and to which a reply was made in my note, Confidential no. 204, December 28, 1939, I have the honor to inform Your Excellency that this question was satisfactorily settled at the end of last year.
According to a recent report from the authorities in China, the greater part of the commanding headquarters at Swatow jetty was removed at the end of last year. As a result of a conference with the commissioner of the Swatow Maritime Customs, the Commissioner of Customs without objection approved various necessary particulars with regard to future Japanese military operations and the prevention of espionage, and the question of vacating the Swatow Customs buildings was also very satisfactorily settled.
I avail myself [etc.]