693.002 Manchuria/36: Telegram
The Consul at Geneva (Gilbert) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 5—9:05 a.m.]
136. Consulate’s 130, March 24, 10 a.m. The Secretary General has circulated the following letter dated April 2 from Sato:
“With reference to the communication from the Chinese delegation dated March 22nd I have the honor to inform you that it is entirely untrue that the Japanese authorities have taken measures to seize the customs revenue in Manchuria or taken steps with a view to this revenue being transferred to the government of the state of Manchuria.
It is also untrue that the Japanese authorities are insisting on appointments to the customs staff and all tariff changes being submitted for the decision of that government.
All these questions are within the competence of the government of Manchuria and not of the Japanese authorities, the Japanese Government being in the position of a third party with regard to the maritime customs of Manchuria. The news of a proposed customs union between Japan and Manchuria is also inaccurate.
The Japanese Government is not aware of the intentions of the government of Manchuria with regard to the payment of the service of foreign loans and other subjects mentioned in the Chinese communication. It does, however, note the assurances given by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of that government in his telegram of March 12th last addressed to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Japan and other powers, to the effect that the government of Manchuria has decided to respect international undertakings and, in particular, the maintenance of the open door.”