893.24/1101
The American, Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs (Matsuoka)
Excellency: With reference to the several formal and informal representations which I have made to Your Excellency concerning certain American-owned cargo in French Indo-China, I have the honor to bring to Your Excellency’s attention the fact that the Japanese military authorities in that area, apparently acting on instructions from their Government, have recently commenced removing the cargo to transports for shipment elsewhere. As much of this cargo is of American origin, is owned by American nationals, and as the Government of the United States has extended considerable credits thereon, I have been instructed by my Government to protest against this arbitrary action and to request that the American cargo be returned to its rightful owners immediately.
According to information received from the American Consul at Hanoi, American firms which had cargo stored in Haiphong received communications on May 24 from the Japanese military authorities demanding the keys to the warehouses in which the cargo was stored. The following day, May 25, before the American firms had reached any decision with reference to this demand, the Japanese prevailed on the French authorities to demand of the American firms the surrender of the keys. In the face of this official demand in writing from the duly constituted French authorities, the American firms were forced under protest to relinquish their keys, which in turn were given by the French authorities to the Japanese. As a matter of fact, it is understood that Japanese soldiers broke into certain warehouses even before the keys were handed over.
The American Consul at Hanoi has lodged a protest with his Japanese colleague with reference to this action of the Japanese military.
I have been instructed to inform Your Excellency that the Government of the United States does not recognize any right on the part of the Japanese military in French Indo-China to take the action described above, and that it reserves all rights in regard to property involved in which it or its nationals may have interest. Although my Government does not have full details in regard to all the merchandise involved, it does have a definite interest in much of it because of its American origin and because of American Governmental credits extended thereon. I am further instructed to inform Your Excellency that my Government has an interest in the unimpeded delivery of this cargo to such destination as may be desired by its lawful owners. [Page 313] Accordingly, it is requested that the cargo be released without delay to the companies which hold title to it.
I avail myself [etc.]