851G.014/17
The Secretary of State to the Japanese Ambassador (Horinouchi)
Excellency: Reference is made to the memorandum, with an accompanying map, left with the Department on March 31 last by Mr. Suma reporting the incorporation of the so-called Sinnan Islands into the territory under the jurisdiction of the Government-General of Formosa as of March 30, 1939. It is stated in the memorandum that the Sinnan Islands comprise small coral reefs which lie within an area described in the memorandum and delimited on the map aforementioned. There are listed in the memorandum the names of what are stated to be the principal coral reefs of the Sinnan Islands, which are in the main situated along the westerly side of the area delimited. Reference is also made in the memorandum to the claims of France to the Islands.
In 1933 the Government of the United States was informed by the French Government of its claim to sovereignty over certain islands situated along the western side of the area described in the Japanese memorandum. Recently this Government has been informed by the French Government that on February 27, 1939, it had suggested to the Japanese Government that the difference between France and Japan on the subject of the sovereignty of the islands be submitted to the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague. Apart from any question as to the merits of the conflicting claims of France and Japan, it may be observed that, as the Japanese Government is aware, the Government of the United States advocates adjustment of problems in international relations by processes of negotiation, agreement or arbitration.
The Government of the United States does not consider that all islands or reefs which might be situated within the extensive area delimited in the Japanese memorandum, and especially within that considerable part of the area lying to the eastward and southeastward of any of the islands named in the Japanese memorandum, can properly be treated as one island group, nor does this Government consider that the action of Japan in blanketing within the territory of Japan islands or reefs, either known or unknown, with respect to [Page 281] which the Japanese Government has heretofore exercised no acts which may properly be regarded as establishing a basis for claim to sovereignty, has any international validity.
Accept [etc.]
[For statement by the Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs concerning the so-called “South Sea advance,” see paragraph 8 of telegram No. 235, May 18, 1939, 7 p.m., from the Ambassador in Japan, page 1.]