611.94231/57
Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs (Hamilton)
Mr. Iguchi, Counselor of the Japanese Embassy, called this afternoon at his request. He said that the Japanese Ambassador had instructed him to call and make inquiries in regard to questions relating to the cargo on board the Japanese vessel, Tatuta Maru. Mr. Iguchi said that when the Japanese Ambassador’had seen Mr. Welles yesterday the Ambassador had not raised the question of cargoes aboard Japanese vessels. Mr. Iguchi said that it had now developed that according to U. S. Customs regulations, a clearance permit for a ship would not be issued unless the cargo destined for the port in question should have been discharged. Mr. Iguchi said that this represented the usual American procedure. He said that in this connection he wished, under instruction from the Ambassador, to raise the question whether it would be possible to alter this procedure and permit clearance of the vessel without discharge of cargo or, if this should not be possible, what would happen to the cargo. He asked whether the cargo would be frozen. Mr. Iguchi said that the Ambassador desired that we be so good as to find out the answers to the questions which Mr. Iguchi had asked.