894.85/656a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Japan (Grew)
694. With reference to your recent telegrams on the subject of requisition orders of the Japanese liners Tatuta Maru, Kikawa Maru, and Taiyo Maru:
A third-person note was sent by the Japanese Ambassador on October 16 to the Department64 concerning the official status of these ships and requesting on behalf of the Japanese Government the grant to the three vessels of immunity while in ports and waters of the United States and its territories from the jurisdiction of courts of the United States, its states, and its territories. The note enclosed translations of the requisition orders of these ships by the Japanese Ministry of Communications (which you mentioned in one of your telegrams).
A copy of the note was sent by the Secretary of State on October 17 to the Attorney General who was informed that the statements in the note from the Japanese Ambassador were accepted by the Department as true and the Japanese Government’s claim of immunity was allowed. The Secretary at the same time requested that the appropriate courts in the ports which the vessels would visit should be advised of this matter and that all proper steps be taken toward recognition by those courts of the immunity of these three Japanese ships.
All the documents mentioned in your telegrams should be sent by mail to the Department for the completion of its record.
- Not printed.↩